VGF bid at stake

Politicisation, anomalies rule rice distribution for poor
Politicisation, mismanagement and the practice of graft marred the very purpose of providing the poor with free food under the government’s special vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme devised for the month of Ramadan.
The special Ramadan VGF that kicked off on September 1 with a target of reaching one lakh metric tonnes (MT) of rice to 10 million poor across the country witnessed gross irregularities in different districts over listing of beneficiaries and allotment of VGF cards.
Reports dispatched by our correspondents from districts said ruling party men influenced local-level administration to claim unofficial ‘quota’ on the cards being distributed among 2,000 to 2,200 beneficiaries in each union. It deprives the genuine marginalised poor of the benefit at different places, said the reports.
Local Awami League leaders took away 900 out of a total of 5,000 VGF cards sanctioned for Kishoreganj municipal area. Besides, many cardholders alleged that they got two to 3 kg less than what they are entitled to–10 kgs against each card.
When asked, Kishoreganj Municipality Mayor Abu Taher Mia said all ward presidents and secretaries of the ruling party together took 900 cards for distributing among their nearest needy people. He, however, denied the allegation of anomalies in weighing rice.
In different upazilas of Dinajpur, ruling party men mounted pressures on local government authorities demanding 1,000 VGF cards against the sanctioned quota for each union.
Khairul Islam Raju, chairman of Birampur upazila in Dinajpur, said that he got 14,000 VGF cards for seven unions of the upazila but the AL men pressed him to give away 7,000 cards to them.
In various unions in Pabna, ruling party leaders took up to 40 percent of the sanctioned VGF cards, reports our correspondent.
Operation of VGF was suspended in two unions of Jaldhaka upazila in Nilphamari over a row between the men of JP lawmaker and local Awami League.
Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, the UNO of Jaldhaka, said though he got lists of propectivebeneficiaries from two union parishads, the local lawmaker Kazi Faruk Kader of Jatiya Party in a fax message from Dhaka directed him to suspend the delivery and distribution of VGF rice. The MP could not be reached for his comment.
Meanwhile, Nilphamari sadar thana police Thursday raided the house of Itakhola union unit AL secretary Babul Hossain and recovered 320 kgs of misappropriated VGF rice and detained his wife. Babul fled sensing trouble.
Earlier, local people brought out a procession in the area as Babul drew the rice against 18 VGF cards that he managed by using party influence.
On Wednesday morning, VGF cardholders brought out a demonstrated against distribution of 20 metric tons of rotten rice among the beneficiaries and laid siege to Harinakundo Municipality and Harinakundo Upazila UNO office in Jhenidah. A case was filed with Harinakundo police station against No-3 ward councillor and poura BNP leader Anisur Rahman.
When contacted, Harinakundo municipality mayor Bulbul Aktar said quality rice was delivered to Anisur Rahman for distribution among the cardholders but he distributed rotten rice. She filed a case with Harinakundo police station against Rahman who went into hiding after the incident.
In Moulvibazar, name of Rajnagar upazila AL General Secretary Md Askir Khan was entered in the list of VGF cardholders as disabled and distressed. Besides, name of a Saudi Arab returnee Md Sufi Miah was also included. The AL leader later withdrew his name from the list.
Abdul Hye Khan, project implementation officer (PIO) in Rajnagar upazila, said, name of the AL leader was put on the list as he has ‘hearing disability’. “It is up to him whether he will take VGF rice or not.”
Due to hindrances caused by the ruling party activists, some 2,000 cardholders of different wards in Cox’s Bazar could not receive VGF rice.
A few days ago, Cox’s Bazar Municipality Mayor Sarwar Kamal at a press briefing said the municipality authorities would be compelled to withdraw itself from VGF rice distribution unless such meddling is are stopped.
It is alleged that though people recommended by the AL city unit of Cox’s Bazar, were listed as eligible for the VGF card, some ward-level leaders of the ruling party are not satisfied with the list.

Courtesy of The Daily Star