The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

The Administration with the assistance of the Armed Forces has completed distribution of 2,075 tonnes of rice allocated for the month of August in Rangpur under VGF programme, officials said here recently.

They said rice were distributed among 2,07,500 distressed families under the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme.

The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management has allocated a total of 10,375 tonnes of rice worth Taka 19.71 crore for distribution among 2,07,500 distressed families under the ongoing VGF programme with 2,075 tonnes per month for the five-month long lean period this year, they said.

The government has extended the VGF programme by two more months this year than that of the previous years and it will continue for five months from August to December in all 83 union parishads (UPs) and Haragach pourasabha under all the nine upazilas of the district to help the distressed people during the lean period.

The second phase of distribution of VGF rice for the month of September will be conducted with the assistance of the Armed Forces from September 15 to 17 and more allocations have been given for the worst flood-hit UPs this year, the officials said.

Under the programme, each family will get a total of 50 kg rice with 10 kg each month and a total of 1,320 tonnes VGF rice will be distributed among 26,400 beneficiary families with 2,400 VGF card holders in each of the 11 UPs under Sadar upazila.

A total of 40,800 families will get a total of 2,040 tonnes of rice in 17 UPs of Mithapukur upazila, 36,000 families will get 1,800 tonnes in 15 UPs of Pirganj upazila, 24,000 families will receive 1,200 tonnes in Badarganj upazila and 12,000 beneficiary families will get 600 tonnes in 5 UPs of Taraganj upazila.

A total of 23,000 families with 2,750 card holders in each of the flood-hit Chaola and Tambulpur UPs and 17,500 families with 2,500 card holders in each of the other seven UPs in Pirgacha upazila will get 1,150 tones of rice under the programme.

A total of 16,000 families with 2,750 card holders in each of the four flood-hit UPs and 5,000 more families with 2,500 card holders in each of the other two UPs in Kawnia upazila will get a total of 800 tonnes of rice and more 125 tonnes of VGF rice will be distributed among 2,500 distressed families in flood-hit Haragach pourasabha in Kawnia upazila.

In the worst flood-hit Gangachara upazila, a total of 1,200 tonnes of rice will be distributed among 24,000 beneficiary families with 2,750 families in each of the worst affected six UPs and 2,500 families each for the other three UPs in the upazila, the officials said.

While talking to BSS after completion of the VGF rice distribution for August Thursday evening, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Rangpur M Rafikul Islam said the distribution could be completed smoothly without any problem and members of the Armed Forces extended their all-out support for the purpose.