Discrimination galore in relief distribution

The newly-launched monitoring committee on relief distribution during coronavirus situation yesterday alleged that there is rampant discrimination in providing assistance.

The committee, from an online press conference, alleged that most poverty-prone areas are getting smaller assistance than comparatively less-vulnerable prone area.

In a statement, it said according to the government's household survey,  Kurigram is the most poverty-prone area. For the district, per person rice allocation was only 874g, and per person cash allocation was Tk 3.85.

Naryanganj is a much better-off area, but for the district, per person rice allocation was 22.5kg and per person cash allocation was Tk 88.17.

If relief distributions at grassroots level is not done properly, a catastrophic situation is waiting for all, said the statement. The government should reach necessary help to doorsteps of people, but so far there are  reports that indiscriminate corruption, irregularities and partiality are taking place in the name of relief distribution.

Against this backdrop, the monitoring committee demanded that all allocations should take place in the light of marginal people's needs. All poor and jobless families should be provided 30kg rice and Tk 10,000 through mobile financial services each month, until the crisis is over, it added.

"The government should buy 50 lakh tonnes of paddy and 25 lakh tonnes of rice from farmers, and should use all schools as silo. It should stop funding of less-important projects under Annual Development Project," the monitoring committee recommended.