'Money for Work programme won't ensure food security'

The Money for Work programme would play a very nominal role in ensuring food security as such practice would create inflation in the rural areas, leading to price hike of foodgrains, they said.

The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry organised the workshop on 'Transformation of Food for Work into Money for Work' at the Shishu Academy auditorium in the city.

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Inaugurating the workshop, Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yousuf said the 'Food for Work' has been playing a vital role in building a communication network in the rural areas.

"Although there are some allegations against it, but the success of the programme is very significant," he noted.

In his keynote paper, Mohammed Abdul Majed said the government's decision to give money instead of foodgrains would hamper distribution of foodgrains for the poor people in rural areas.

It might also create problems while implementing development projects due to bureaucratic tangles, he added.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony as special guest, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on disaster management and relief Mohammad Shahjahan said it is not true that Food for Work does not produce any positive result in the country's development.

The prices of food would go up in rural areas if the programme is withdrawn, he said.

Secretary of the ministry BMM Mozharul Hoque said the government has decided to transform the programme into 'Money for Work' as some irregularities have been identified by the government.

It is premature to asses the success of the new system as the programme was introduced just two years ago on experimental basis, he added.

The secretary also said the government had allocated Tk 122 crore in the current fiscal for both the programmes.