A Vietnamese entrepreneur has come with an ingenious idea to help hungry people Vietnam. Businessman Hoang Tuan Anh designed an ATM that dispenses rice instead cash. He arranged the ATMs to be installed on streets in cities Vietnam. Mr Anh said he was troubled the number of people going hungry after losing their jobs the coronavirus. An estimated five million people lost their livelihoods as a result the pandemic. The "free-rice ATMs" have become so popular that Anh is arranging more to be manufactured and installed. He told reporters that other businesses, sponsors and donors have offered to help fund his project, allowing him to extend the reach the ATMs.
Mr Anh explained what was behind his initiative. He told the BBC: "I wanted to invent a 24/7 automatic dispensing machine providing free rice people of work following an ongoing nationwide lockdown to curb the spread the novel coronavirus." Mr Anh estimated that his machines have dispensed 3,000 tons free rice to those need. People are permitted to "withdraw" 1.5kg rice twice a day. Many people are appreciative Mr Anh's efforts. A mother who recently lost her job told the Reuters news agency: "I read this rice ATM on the Internet. I came to check it out, and couldn't believe it came of the ATM. I really hope the sponsors keep doing this."
