3-month-long VGF scheme planned for Sajek villagers

Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Manjarul Mannan has claimed that the acute food crisis prevailing in Sajek’s remote villages for the last three months has eased after the government took comprehensive schemes. “We have initiated a scheme to provide some 2,000 families with food supplies through VGF cards for three months,” the DC told reporters during a press conference at his office Friday. Since April 21, the Relief and Disaster Management Ministry, district administration, and the army and BGB have so far distributed 28 tonnes of rice among the Chakma-dominated villagers. DC Mannan said that the crisis had begun due to low production of jhum crops (slash-and-burn method) this season. “The Relief Ministry has allocated 15 tonnes of rice while the CHT Affairs Ministry allocated 10 tonnes more and Tk10 lakh as cash for the affected villagers,” he added. Locals allege that traders increased the price of coarse rice from Tk30-35 to Tk90-110 and the indigenous peoples need to walk around 15km to go to Machalong Bazar to get rice at fair price. Because of the crisis, many have resorted to feeding on alternatives like spuds and gourds. On Thursday, Rangamati Hill District Council distributed 10 kgs of rice among each of around 1,000 families with the help of Sajek Union Parishad. On Wednesday, the army used helicopters to reach the villagers in the remote areas. On May 1, the Rangamati district administration distributed 5 tonnes of rice. The indigenous peoples were given eight tonnes of rice on April 21 by Sajek Union Parishad.