Over 5.5 lakh fishermen to come under VGF scheme

The government has announced to provide special vulnerable group feeding (VGF) scheme for over 5.5 lakh fishermen during the 22-day Hilsa fishing ban, to be enforced from October 4 to October 25 this year.

In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock said a total of 5,55,944 fishermen families located in 151 upazilas, including the Chattogram city, under 37 districts will get 11,118.88 metric tonnes of rice under the VGF scheme.

On September 26, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a notification banning stock, marketing, buying and selling and exchange of Hilsa during its main breeding season, which starts in October this year.

The VGF allocation will be dispersed under the humanitarian assistance programme of the government. Each fishermen family will get 20kg rice under the scheme, the release added.

The ministry issued an approval order in favor to the concerned deputy commissioners on September 27 with an instruction to withdraw and disburse the consignment within October 25, the release also informed.

The ministry has also further instructed the district heads that only those (fishermen) who are identified as marine fishermen with identity cards would be entitled to get the allocation.