Tk 2500 support yet to be reached 15 lakh families

Three months elapsed since the government took initiative to help 50 lakh coronavirus-hit families with Tk 2500 each, but the aid is yet to be reached around 15 lakh families.

There were found irregularities, inconsistencies and mistakes in the list of the affected people made led by the deputy commissioners (DCs) and supervised by the upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) that caused delay in completion of the task in time.

The government could distribute the financial assistance among 34,97,353 families as of August 10, according to the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, and Social Welfare Ministry.

Earlier on May 11, the Ministry of Finance cleared Tk 1,257 crore, including costs of sending through mobile banking, for providing one-time Tk 2500 among 50 lakh poor families each. On May 14, the Prime Minister inaugurated the programme.

Finance Ministry has recently sent an implementation progress report of the programme to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). 

Its copies have also been sent to Information and Communication Technology Ministry, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, and Social Welfare Ministry.

Regarding this, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Dr Enamur Rahman said the financial aid would be distributed among all 50 lakh families. To whom the money is yet to be reached, information about them is being updated, he added.

Finance Division of the MoF reasoned behind the delay having mobile banking account of the beneficiaries inactive, and inconsistency in their data. 

Asked about this, former caretaker government Finance Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam told Jago News that the government has goodwill, but faulty list of the beneficiaries caused the delay. "This is very sad," he said.