Continue feeding extreme poor
Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) Chairman Dr Akbar Ali Khan yesterday urged the government to continue feeding the extreme poor despite good prospect of boro harvest.
“The country needs adequate quantity of food stock. In addition, there should be food arrangement for the extreme poor, as they won't be able to buy food at whatever may be the level of price,” he told reporters at the RRC office.
Dr Akbar Ali said, “The government also needs to create employment opportunities for them (extreme poor).”
Replying to a question, the RRC chairman said he was informed that the government has already undertaken various initiatives for the poor, but he was not aware how many of the extreme poor, 10 percent of the total population, would be covered under the initiatives.
Replying to another question, he expected that boro production would be fairly good this season, reducing the country's food shortage to a large extent.
“The rice procurement price the government offered will be profitable for the farmers, but it depends on the procurement procedure,” Dr Akbar Ali said, replying to a question whether the farmers would get the real price.
“If the farmers earlier took 'dadon' (advance borrowings from informal sector), they'll have to give away the rice to the lenders at previously agreed price and they are unlikely to get the better price,” he added.
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