Muhith keen to stop VGF programmes

In an interesting move, finance minister is looking forward to only continuing the low price food distribution programmes, stopping the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme. The development came despite a huge allocation for the VGF programme in the proposed budget. The food distribution programmes would go on for the beneficiaries of the VGF programme. “We run different types of food programme for the poor across the country for five months  every year. So, it is unnecessary to continue the VGF programme,” a letter issued by Finance Minster AMA Muhith reads. The letter was sent to Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya on June 5. An official of the Finance Ministry, however, said the decision was not taken by Muhith alone since it was finalised in a recent meeting where Maya was also present. Complying with the decision, the letter to stop the VGF programme was sent to the  Disaster Management and Relief Minister, the official said preferring anonymity. In the latter, Muhith said the poor section of the society is getting adequate food from the relief and food ministries. “I do not think it necessary to continue VGF programme as the government runs different types of good programmes throughout the country. We can try to meet the demand of food for the poor from the different low price food distribution programmes,” he stated. “Besides, we are now more and less a self-sufficient country in terms of food production. In some cases, we see surplus production,” he continued. The government will have to procure food at fair prices from the areas where a large quantity of harvest is reported. And, the food will be supplied to the poor at cheaper rates, he added. The disaster management and relief ministry is  now running  the VGF programme in the recently flood-ravaged hoar areas of Sylhet region, and also in Satkhira and Kurigram . In this regard, the ministry has sought another Tk300 crore from the Finance Division to run the VGF programme. The proposed allocation for the VGA programme in the budget of 2017-18 fiscal year is of over Tk 1800 crore, according to ministry sources. Meanwhile, experts criticised the initiative, saying it is not time the government stopped the VGF programme as acute food crisis is still prevailing in some areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts and in the Haor areas of Sylhet division. Former adviser to the last caretaker government, Hossain Zillur Rahman, said: “It is not a good decision to stop the VGF programme when there is a rice crisis in the country”. He feared that the decision will badly affect the poor with price hike weighing on them. On a separate note, he also termed the government’s recent decision to import rice from Vietnam way too late. Badiul Alam Majumdar, general secretary of Sujan, a civil society platform, termed the move an anti-people one. “As the poor section is already bearing the brunt of price hike, it will hit them hard if the decision is implemented,” he said.