Redistribute VGF cards withdrawn from Sidr victims
Political leaders in Patuakhali appeal to govt to give over one lakh cards to deprived ones
Political leaders, local body representatives and Sidr victims have appealed to the authorities that government VGF (vulnerable group feeding (VGF) cards withdrawn from affected areas in Patuakhali and Barguna because of duplication due to similar doles may be distributed among affected people who did not get any such relief.
A total of 1,02,783 VGF cards distributed among Sidr victims in Patuakhali and Barguna districts have been withdrawn by the districts administrations as the beneficiaries got food relief from Save the Children, an international organization and another partner NGO.
The withdrawn cards are now at district relief offices, sources said.
Of the cards withdrawn, 53, 499 are in Patuakhali and the rest 49, 284 are in Barguna.
Official sources said the duplication in distribution of relief was due to coordination gap.
Talking to this correspondent, the local leaders and affected people said many Sidr victims are facing food crisis due to loss of Amon crop but they are yet to get any relief from any source.
Sources in Patuakhali and districts relief and rehabilitation office in Patuakhali and Barguna district sources said,
A total of 3, 59,462 VGF cards were distributed in seven upazilas of Patuakhali district and another 2, 10,000 in five upazilas of Barguna among Sidr victims.
The operation is being assisted by World Food Program (WFP). Each VGF card holder gets 15 kilograms of rice per month. The program began on December 14 last year and will continue till February.
In Patuakhali district, 16, 266 out of 59, 731 VGF cards were later withdrawn in Sadar upazila; 7,943 out of 45, 750 in Kalapara; 5,095 out of 30,000 in Mirzagonj; 5,439 out of 70,000 in Baufal; 500 out of 30,000 in Dashmina; 1,095 out of 20,000 in Dumki; 700 out of 5,000 in Galachipa municipality; 75 out of 4,250 in Kalapara municipality and 50 out of 5,000 in Patuakhali municipality areas.
The cards were withdrawn after about one month as Save the Children intruduced another program to provide food supply among Sidr victims in the district.
The organisation distributed special cards among Sidr victims and every card holder is getting 30 kilograms of rice, 9 kilograms of lentil, two litres of vegetable oil, one kilogram of salt and 10 packets of biscuits per month.
Save the Children distributed 79, 487 cards among Sidr victims in Patuakhali, sources at DRRO (district relief and rehabilitation office) said.
“We took back the VGF cards to avoid overlapping” Abul Maleq, Patuakhali DRRO said..
“The donor agency complained that a good number of Sidr victims were getting food help under both programmes. So we took away VGF cards from persons who got both”, he said.
Major portion of Amon crop in Patuakhali was badly damaged by the Sidr and most people in the affected areas are facing food shortage, other officials said.
According to officials of Agriculture Extension Department (AED), Amon paddy on at least 4, 93,505 acres were damaged-- 1, 19,794 acres totally and 3, 73,711 acres partly--in Patuakhali district.
Over 10, 37, 994 people of 2, 5, 300 families in Patuakhali were affected by the Sidr but all the victims yet to be brought under food relief programmme, the officials said.
Rashid, 45, a day labourer in Karamjatala village in Patuakhali sadar upazila said, “I did not get any card either under VGF programme or from Save the Children though I am a Sidr victim”.
Humayun Kabir, chiarman of Auliapur Union Parishad in Sadar upazila said, “The government should provide food help to all Sidr victims by redistributing the VGF cards among victims whi did not get any relief”. He said many affected farmers are passing hard days but can not seek relief out of shame.
Talking to this correspondent, Patuakhali district Awami League secretary Khan Mosharraf Hossain said there is no point in taking away the VGF cards from the affected areas. Many affected people are get to get any relief while the Irri-Boro crop is about four months away. The returned cards should be distributed among the affected people, who are not responsible for lack of coordination in distribution, he said.
Acting secretary of BNP Maksud Ahmed Bayejid Panna said there are many unemployed affected people who can not buy rice as prices are high. They should be given assistance till the next crop.
In Barguna, 49,284 VGF cards have been taken away. According to officials, 55,000 cards were distributed in Sadar upazila; 55,962 in Amtali; 41,000 in Pathorghata; 37,040 in Betagi and 20,000 in Bamna upazila.
After about a month, SUSHILON (Sundar Kajer Anushilon), a local partner NGO, distributed relief cards to 72,381 people in the district with assistance from WFP. Each card holder gets 30 kilograms of rice, 9 kilograms of, lentil, two litres of vegetable oil, one kilogram of salt and 10 packets of biscuits per month.
In the district, 5, 14,556 people were affected by the Sidr but all were not brought under food relief.
freedom fighter Harun-or-Rashid Sikder, of Barguna town said, it is hard to fimd any family in the district which was not affected by Sidr. A good number of them are yet to get any help.
“I did not get VGF or SUSHILON card though my house was damaged by Sidr”.
“There are many like me who can not stand in the long queue for relief though they are passing hard days”.
Samsiddin Shekh, Deputy Director (DD) of AED in Barguna said most people in the district are facing food crisis as Amon on 1, 69, 539 hectares was damaged. The damaged areas account for about 90 per cent of Aman paddy, he said.
Md. Skhawat Hossain, acting Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Barguna, said, “We took back the VGF card as per government's directive”.
He however refuted any coordination gap in distribution.
Asked if the returned VGF cards could be distributed among victims he said it depends on government decision.
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