Maya warns against irregularities in relief distribution

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on Thursday warned that the government will show 'zero tolerance' to any irregularity in relief distribution in the flood-affected haor regions.
"Any kind of irregularity in distribution of rice and other relief materials won't be tolerated. No one will be spared if any specific allegation is found in this regard," he told an inter-ministerial disaster management coordination committee meeting at his ministry.
Maya said the government will provide 50,000 fishermen in haor areas with food assistance under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme as they have become jobless.
Besides, he said alternative jobs will be generated for them. "We've already released Tk 10-15 crore based on districts for the creation of alternative employments for fishermen."
The minister said they will continue to give food aid to 3.30 lakh flood-hit families in the haor areas.
Besides, he said, the government will also carry out its food support under open market sale (OMS) and fair price card programmes.
Maya said the deputy commissioners concerned have been asked to ensure coronation among GR, VGD, VGF, OMS and fair price card programmes to bring all the flood victims under the government's food assistance.
He said all the ministries have been asked to take pragmatic steps to rehabilitate the affected haor people within a short time.    �UNB