Ensure proper distribution of relief goods

First it was 10 million, and now 5 more million people are set to receive relief goods from the government. But reaching people who really need this help still remains a challenge. Influential locals in connivance with a section of the administration often steal the relief goods, which is a matter of big concern. The policymakers should realize that we may fall in another crisis not because of lack of relief goods, but because of their improper distribution.

So, more than the number of people getting reliefs is important if the most deserving have got them. We can only rest assured when both these indicators look promising. However, the bitter truth is that the nation has fallen into another crisis because of corruption of the concerned people and organisations, who were entrusted with the responsibility to distribute the reliefs.

The local government ministry has already suspended 52 public representatives for their involvement in relief theft. We have always seen that nepotism comes to the fore during relief distribution, which is no less a crime than looting and misappropriating funds.

The prime minister in her speech also warned everyone concerned of indulging into such irregularities. She said political identity should not matter while distributing relief materials. We believe it is the duty if the deputy commissioner to ensure this order.

But the political leaders have played no role in this crisis period of COVID-19. A few of them have been active, but they are doing that sporadically, meaning no significant steps have been taken on behalf of the organisations. It is very sad that in more than half of the districts allegations of misappropriation has been reported. And in almost every case, ruling party men were involved.

The list of potential relief good receivers is also ruled by partisan mentality. The local leaders in most of the cases did not care to protest the irregularities. Among the 52 suspended local government representatives, 40 are from the ruling party. They should be stripped off their responsibilities.

The local government system has been politicized in the name of democracy and the nation is suffering in this crucial time as its result. In a country where VGD and VGF fail, it is very natural that the list of needy people will be faulty.

In the last ten years we have seen the communication sector recording a remarkable development. We are proud of our national identification card. But if we cannot ensure the poor get the reliefs and people who do not need them are in fact pocketing them, this will be a sad chapter in our national life. The success of fighting this crisis will largely depend on reaching the relief goods to the door of the people who actually need them.