<i>Thus they steal rice from every VGF cardholder</i>

22 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Beneficiaries of the government's vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme in Dimla upazila ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha are getting less than the allocated amount due to alleged malpractice by the people in charge of distribution. During visits to Gayabari and Nautara unions of the upazila on Wednesday and Thursday, this correspondent found that almost every cardholder was getting 8-9 kg of rice although they are supposed to get 10 kg each as per the government rule. This correspondent talked to several beneficiaries of the programme including Morjina Begum having VGF card No 299, Mizanur Rahman (card No 2234), Monam(card No 1934), Rabiul (card No 2014), and Jyotsna Begum (card No 353) -- all hailing from Gayabari union of Dimla upazila. They said the chairman and members of the union parishad concerned are giving a bag of 81 kg rice to nine cardholders so that each person gets 9 kg. But as per government rule, the nine cardholders are to get altogether 90 kg of rice for getting 10 kg each. In the same way, nine kg of rice is being given to almost all the 2200 VGF cardholders in Nautara union of the upazila. Asked about the matter, Gayabari union parishad Chairman Shamsul Huq admitted giving one kg rice less to each cardholder. "After giving rice to the beneficiaries in this way (1kg less), the remaining amount will be sold to bear the costs of transportation, payment to volunteers and others," he said. There are 2200 cardholders in each union of Dimla upazila, sources said, adding that if each beneficiary gets 1 kg rice less than allocation, 2200 kg of rice worth about Tk 48,000 (1 kg rice sells at about Tk 22 now) would be 'saved'. 'Tag officer' Suvash Chandra Roy, also the 'women affairs officer' set by the upazila authorities to monitor rice distribution administration in Gayabari union, said the allegation of giving one kg rice less to almost each beneficiary has been found true. "It is a mandatory for the UP officials to give 10 kg rice to each cardholder. They cannot give less than 10 kg rice to a beneficiary as the government bears costs for transportation and others," said Mojibur Rahman, the project implementation officer in Dimla upazila.