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No steps taken yet to tackle Monga

Observes JS body, slates govt inaction

Staff Correspondent
The parliamentary standing committee on agriculture ministry yesterday again blasted the government for not taking any permanent measures to eliminate Monga, a ncar-fatnine situation that occurs in every September-October in the northwestern region.
In 2003, the government pledged to start corps diversification
programme and undertake projects of small and cottage industries in order to create alternative jobs for people, who lose their purchasing capacity as they do not have jobs during the two months.
But no significant step has been taken to mitigate sufferings of the people in the northwestern districts, observed the committee.
The opposition lawmakers in the
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committee alleged that the government did not initiate any step to address the issue as the opposition political parties dominate the Monga-hitdlstricts.
"We are not happy as the progress is not satisfactory," Committee Chairman Abdul Mannan told reporters after the meeting.
"We have been recommending measures to tackle the issue for the last three years, but our recommendations failed to draw government's attention," Mannan, also a ruling BNP lawmaker, said.
"The government policy should be changed to address the Monga situation. Combined efforts of the ministries of agriculture. Industries and commerce are must to tackle the situation." he added.
Despite allocation of Tk 50 crore in the current fiscal year to mitigate crisis due to seasonal unemployment. no step has been taken, the committee members said.
"The government did not create alternative jobs for people in the Monga-hit region. It seems the issue will be not be addressed this year," Dr Abdur Razzak. Awami league (AI.) lawmaker and a member of the committee, told journalists after the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Motahar Hossain, an AL lawmaker elected from northern district Lalmonirhat, who raised the issue at the meeting, alleged that the government is indifferent to the crisis, as tlie opposition lawmakers dominate the monga-hitdistricts.
A subcommittee was formed about seven months ago to make recommendations to create alternative jobs for people in the monga-liit districts.
,'fhe parliamentary body yesterday once again asked the subcommittee to submit its report soon while members of the parliamentary body expressed dissatisfaction over the ineffectiveness of thesubcommittee.
"The subcommittee headed by Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury of Sylhet did not convene any meetingsince its
formation," said Motahar Hossain, a memberofthesubcommittee.
The subcommittee should have been formed headed by a lawmaker elected from a northern district, he added.
The convenor of the subcommittee, however, assured the meeting that hewouldconveneameetingsoon.
The parliamentary watchdog also discussed the shortage of jute seeds in the country and asked the agriculture ministry to initiate steps to solve d ie problem.