Around 30 to 35 percent of government assistance for the people affected by Monga, a near-famine situation in northwestern region of the country, is misused due to weakness of the local government, said a field-based survey report yesterday.

"Government safety net programmes including VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) and VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) also do not reach the targeted group due to corruption of local government and local political influence," said Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), while presenting the report at a press briefing.

The briefing was organised to reveal the findings of the survey titled 'Monga forecast 2005: Field assessment and action plan' at the PPRC office in the city.

Zillur said around 65.2 percent of the affected people rely on government assistance to cope with Monga, but over 30 percent of the assistance does not reach the targeted group.

"Monga is a perennial problem which could be solved by creating scope for employment, diversifying non-farm jobs, utilising government

safety net programmes more effectively, and creating awareness among the people," he added.

He suggested utilisation of army-prepared list to coordinate the distribution of VGF cards. Besides, old-age and widow allowances should be distributed on monthly basis during the Monga period, he added.

Zillur also urged the government to take necessary measures so that the affected families do not take help from Mahajons (local moneylenders).

According to the report some 43 percent of the Monga-hit people take mahajoni credit with high interest while 6.6 and 4.7 percent people face the situation by eating low-quality food and selling advanced labour respectively.

other speakers said thousands of people at southern districts and their offshore lands including Bhola also face similar famine in September-october period due to river erosion.

They urged the government to take different development policy and programmes with view to assisting those people.

Dipal Barua of Grammen Bank, and Hafij Uddin of Social Development Foundation were present on the occasion.