The government has taken several initiatives to help the unemployed people during the ongoing lockdown.
These include cash, food, making available low-price commodities through TCB, assistance to farmers and other means.
A number of workers in various sectors, including transport workers, have been laid off since the lockdown began on 5 April to prevent the Covid-19 second wave. Strict lockdown will be started from July 01. Economists recommended food aid and cash assistance for them.
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated Tk 23 crore 6 lakh 75 thousand in favor of 64 districts for providing humanitarian assistance to the poor, destitute, indigent and unemployed people who have been affected due to the ongoing lockdown.
The allocation was released from ministry on Sunday, according to a press release on Monday signed by the ministry's Senior Information Officer Md. Selim Hossain.
As per the conditions, the deputy commissioners will pay the allotted money to the Union Parishad. People who are eligible for humanitarian assistance by calling 333 will be given food aid such as rice-pulses-oil-salt-potato etc. from this allocation.
Official said the ministry had provided food aid to 1.25 crore poor and jobless families during the lockdown last year.
After Covid-19 hit the country last year, the government had allocated Tk 2,500 crore to provide food aid to the poor for three months during the 66-day public holiday from March to May. At that time, the government distributed rice, pulses, salt, oil and potatoes as food aid to the poor families.
Since the pandemic started in the country in March last year, in addition to food assistance to the unemployed poor, the government has allocated Tk8,043 crore under six incentive packages to ensure food and social security for the poor under various initiatives.
These include the prime minister's Eid gift of Tk 2,500 to five million unemployed poor people, enhancing social security coverage, three months' allowance of Tk3,000 to unemployed workers, distribution of rice at Tk10 per kg and increasing the amount of allowance for poor, elderly and widows.
