MEDIA report says, the newly launched ‘food friendly programme’ for ultra-poor across the country to sell rice at Tk 10 per kg to make their life easier is quite good. It would cost the national exchequer Tk. 835 crore, in addition to the Tk 2,000 crore earmarked in the current fiscal budget for food related subsidy through OMS operation during fiscal 2016-17. The new programme aimed at serving about 50 lakh poor families; will enable them to buy 30 kilogram rice a month at the prescribed low price. The Food Ministry launched the programme jointly with the District Administration on Wednesday to run for a period of five months during dry season. Starting from September it will continue through October and November in 2016 and March and April in 2017. It seems that the months for the programme have been selected in view of non-availability of rural work for the day-labourers in such time.
As per media report, local public representatives have already selected ultra-poor families who would get this highly subsidized rice. We favour every such move that helps the poor but there is also plenty skepticism whether or not the beneficiaries have been selected apolitically. The apprehension is not unfounded because our local political system has become highly politicized over the past years on political lines. There is no doubt election and distribution of state benefits have become tied to mobilizing public support for the ruling party and any such attitude may make the new scheme highly discriminatory. Many fear that party loyalty could make a good scheme bad by bringing political issue in between.
We are for creating greater safety net for the poor and it is gradually expanding every year. The new scheme focused on providing food to the ultra-poor at low cost during lean economic activities will definitely help people mitigate their food problem. We also hope that the rice to be put on sale will have the minimum quality to be provided from old stock of the government godowns.
Bangladesh is producing enough rice and there is growing shortage of government godowns to stock excess rice that the government procures during post harvest season. We are also exporting limited rice to vacate godown space and providing such stock to the poor at low cost makes sense. We only hope that everybody will be treated equally without politicizing the scheme for ruling party benefits.
As per media report, local public representatives have already selected ultra-poor families who would get this highly subsidized rice. We favour every such move that helps the poor but there is also plenty skepticism whether or not the beneficiaries have been selected apolitically. The apprehension is not unfounded because our local political system has become highly politicized over the past years on political lines. There is no doubt election and distribution of state benefits have become tied to mobilizing public support for the ruling party and any such attitude may make the new scheme highly discriminatory. Many fear that party loyalty could make a good scheme bad by bringing political issue in between.
We are for creating greater safety net for the poor and it is gradually expanding every year. The new scheme focused on providing food to the ultra-poor at low cost during lean economic activities will definitely help people mitigate their food problem. We also hope that the rice to be put on sale will have the minimum quality to be provided from old stock of the government godowns.
Bangladesh is producing enough rice and there is growing shortage of government godowns to stock excess rice that the government procures during post harvest season. We are also exporting limited rice to vacate godown space and providing such stock to the poor at low cost makes sense. We only hope that everybody will be treated equally without politicizing the scheme for ruling party benefits.
