The National Human Rights Commission has asked the government not to sell the foodstuff received in grant from donors for earthquake survivors.

The rights body wrote to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, seeking clarification on the decision to sell the rice meant for the quake-displaced people.

The Supplies Ministry is reported to have asked the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) to sell the food items after they started to rot.

According to the NFC, Bangladesh had provided 10,000 tonnes of rice while China had donated 130,000 tonnes. China had also sent in a quintal each of edible oil and salt. However, the NFC failed to deliver it to the targeted areas due to bureaucratic delays.

“We have asked details about the report from the government,” said Mohna Ansari, spokesperson for the commission. “And we hope the reports are not true.”

Ansari said selling the donated foodstuff would send across a negative message. The government should have distributed the goods to the needy people, she said.

The NHRC found that many quake survivors were living a hard life for want of food. The rights watchdog urged the government to distribute relief goods to the quake-hit.