Cash Aid to Poor: 80 percent families yet to get assistance
The government announced that 50 lakh poor families hit by the coronavirus pandemic would get Tk 2,500 cash assistance each through four major mobile financial service (MFS) providers from May 14 to 18 to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, but 80 percent of listed low-income families in the district are yet to get the cash aid.
The MFS operators are bKash, Nagad, Rocket and SureCash.
The prime minister on May 14 launched the disbursement of over Tk 1,200 crore cash aid for 50 lakh poor families hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Under the cash assistance programme, each family will get Tk 2,500 cash aid through MFS providers so that they get the money directly.
There are 55,000 listed low-income families in seven upazilas of the district, said Md Mozaharul Haque, Pirojpur district relief and rehabilitation officer.
But only 20 percent of the listed families in the district have received the cash assistance using their cellphone numbers till now, said local public representatives.
Shahidul Islam, one of the listed beneficiaries of Togra village in Indurkani upazila, said "The government declared to disburse the money before Eid-ul-Fitr, but I'm yet to receive any cash aid. However, I provided my cellphone number and photocopy of national identity (NID) card to the authorities concerned."
Like Shahidul, thousands of listed beneficiaries are facing the similar problem, said local union parishad members.
Another listed beneficiary Rezaul Karim from the same village said local union parishad (UP) member took his cellphone number and photocopy of national identity (NID) card, but he is yet to receive the money.
"I am now jobless due to coronavirus outbreak. I'm now running my family by taking loan from relatives. If I get the cash aid, it will be very helpful for me in the crisis time," he said.
Saadullah Liton, councilor of Ward no 7 of Pirojpur municipality, said there was a mistake in providing information during preparation of lists of poor families.
"As the information of NID and registration of SIM cards of mostly beneficiaries does not match, it is being delayed to get the money," he said.
Liton further said he has already informed the authorities concerned about the matter and they have assured him that all the listed beneficiaries will get the money.
"Because of delaying the cash disbursement, every day the listed beneficiaries contact with me in person or through cellphone to know when they will get the money," said Mohsin Hawlader, another member of Ward no 5 of Parerhat union parishad in Indurkani upazila of the district.
Contacted, Abu Ali M Sazzad Hossain, deputy commissioner in Pirojpur, said rest of the listed beneficiaries will get the money using their provided cellphone numbers from 27 June.