One-third people getting govt assistance: Information minister

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said more than one-third people of the country are getting government assistance amid nationwide COVID-19 shutdown.

“Apart from its routine social safety net programmes, the government is providing different types of assistances to more than one-third people of the country as the global coronavirus pandemic created an unusual situation,” he told a press briefing at his official residence in the Minto Road area on Monday, reports BSS.

Hasan, also ruling Awami League’s joint general secretary, said the Relief and Disaster Management Ministry by now allocated 66,000 metric tonnes of rice and Taka 250 million among people who were rendered jobless even at village level.

He said the Food Ministry, on the other hand, allocated Taka 21.0 million for the vulnerable people during the crisis.

Hasan said the crisis prompted policemen to appear with an extraordinary mission in reaching foods to middle income people’s doorsteps, responding to their phone calls or calling them up as queuing up in lines for relief could hurt their dignity.

He minister said city corporations in Dhaka and Chattogram and other major cities, administrations in field level and ruling Awami League leaders and workers extended as well their hands to people in different ways.

Hasan said under a government programme some 5.0 million low income people were getting rice at Taka 10 per kg for several years for a period of seven months a year while authorities now mulled to extend its time span.

The minister said the food ministry simultaneously allocated 35,828 metric tonnes of rice to be sold through 689 centers under an “open market sale” (OMS) programme in March and April across the country.

Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier launched different allowances for the country’s marginalised people aiming at transforming Bangladesh into a welfare state.

He said under the social safety net programmes, the government this year has allocated Taka 10.20 billion for 1.7 million widows, Taka 26.40 billion for 4.4 million elderly people, Taka 13.90  billion for 1.6 million destitute people and Taka 11.82 billion under VGD programme and 20,320 metric tonnes of rice under the VGF programme.