Ensure food, jobs for the southern districts

The three-installment series on Barishal published in Prothom Alo portrayed the harrowing tales of the locals affected by the novel coronavirus. The reports were filed after the corespondents visited different areas and spoke to the residents of this coastal district. They also considered data made by government and private entities. The condition of the neighboring districts, especially Bhola, Jhalakati, Patuakhali and Barguna, are worse.

A survey of COAST Trust, a non-government organisation, said as many as 57 per cent of the families in the coastal districts are suffering from lack of food due to the coronavirus crisis. The districts surveyed include Bhola and Barishal.

The Prothom Alo reports revealed that people are more concerned about their livelihood than the disease. Even if they can save themselves from the virus, they are suffering from poverty. The middle class are living on their savings as they did not get any help from the government or non-government entities. But the poor have been hit the hardest, especially those who earned their living by doing menial jobs or small businesses.

A recent survey of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies found that as many as 13 per cent people lost their jobs due to the pandemic while 25 per cent saw their income or salary cut. A BRAC study on the marginalized people had said that the income of 95 per cent of the people went down.

The people in Barishal and the southern districts have been hit in two ways. One is the coronavirus, which has affected people from the other areas, too. The other is the cyclone Amphan whoch had attached the southern region last month. Satkhira and Khulna were the most affected. But the five districts in Barishal division saw about 49,500 houses full or partially damaged.

The brutal reality is that they cannot even afford to buy food as they have lost their jobs. The children are not getting the healthy diet while the schools are closed for three months, too. A big number of people are leaving the cities and returning to the villages as well. This will certainly have a negative impact on the rural economy.

Amid such circumstances, the government should take short and long term projects to help the poor. Those who do not have food should get supply delivered to their doors. The government can seek the help of organisations like BRAC and UNICEF. The middle class should get loans on low interest because they cannot ask for money to others.

As for the long-term projects, the government should create industry-based employment opportunities in the coastal belt. The embankments should be repaired and the rural areas should get priority in the future plans. Development means going forward together, not just the improvement of a certain segment.