Deltans have been assured of equitable distribution of palliatives as the government gets set to commence the distribution of palliatives, to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy .
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu gave the assurance while briefing newsmen today in Asaba.
The Secretary to the State Government , who doubles as the chairman of the steering committee on the distribution of the fuel subsidy removal palliatives, said distribution of the food items was set to commence in 500 wards of the state.
He said over 13,000 bags of 50kg bags of rice out of over 17,000bags earmarked for the state, had been received, while over 16,000 bags of grains, which would soon arrive the state from the federal government, were set to be distributed in the 20 wards in the 25 local government areas.
The SSG said the steering committee has been structured out with a clear cut modalities to give 40% of the food items and fertilizers to ward level with 40percent of the food items, while 20 percent will go to the poor and vulnerable household, 25% direct intervention by the state to widows and people with disabilities, 10% for urban wards and 5% contingency reserve to local government areas.
Dr. Emu emphasized that the committee will make use of the state approved social register which is in line with the World Bank poverty mapping template stating that the state was the first to register widows which has been captured in the federal government social register.
He said members of the distribution committees at the ward and local government level were non partisan individuals drawn from religious bodies, civil societies and charity organizations, and were tried and tested persons, having been selected by, and accountable to, the local people.
The SSG said the state had begun the distribution of the palliatives with the payment of 5.522billion naira promotion arrears, which started in August for a period of four months, in addition to the 10,000 naira payment to over 50,000 public servants for a three-month period, and the recruitment of 2000 primary school teachers.
He also cited the rotational working days scheme for workers on salary grade levels 1-14 and the 40 billion naira pension payment for local government workers.
Dr. Emu added that there were proposed partnerships with the private sector in the distribution of fuel and gas-enabled buses and tricycles in the state, as part of timely projects to alleviate the increasing hardship.