FE Report

The government has extended the time for distribution of rice under countrywide VGF (vulnerable group feeding) programme by 10 days, as many district administrations missed the August 20 deadline.

"We have extended the timeframe for the distribution of rice under the special VGF scheme until August 30 following the request of some deputy commissioners (DCs)," a food and disaster management ministry official told the FE Wednesday.

Earlier, the district administrations were asked to complete the distribution of rice among selected beneficiaries by August 20, officials said, adding the progarmme has already kicked off in different areas of the country.

The government had taken the special VGF programme, to provide about 10.06 million poor families with enhanced food security during the holy month of Ramadan, official sources said.