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Allowances for the poor thru mobile banking


Published : 04 Sep 2020 09:26 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 03:13 PM

Under the social safety net programme, the government has taken up a pilot project to give the ultra-poor allowances through cell phone banking.

In the wake of widespread allegations and irregularities in giving allowances to the poor people, the ministry of social welfare has made the decision, ministry sources said.

In the pilot project, people of eight union parishads of eight divisions will get their allowances.

The government has been increasing the allocation in the social security sector every year to improve the condition of the poor.

And now, about one-fourth of the families in the country have been brought under the social security programme, sources said.

“If we can make our pilot project a success, people, who are under social safety net programme, will also get their allowance across the country in phases,” an official preferring not to be named said        

Apart from the poor, the old, widows and women deserted by their husbands, insolvent persons with disabilities, will also get the allowance.

In this framework, project director Mohammad Khurshid Alam told Bangladesh Post, “We are evaluating from all corners of the project. Work is underway on a pilot project in this context.”

He also said whether any one has their own mobile phone or not, they can use someone else's mobile phone to get the money; these challenges will be closely monitored. If it is seen that the beneficiaries are able to collect the allowance easily, this initiative will be implemented across the country in phases.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has held meetings with four mobile financial service providers in the country. There was a positive response, he pointed.

Former finance secretary Mahbub Ahmed told Bangladesh Post, “This would help to reduce the gap between people. Social safety in Bangladesh should be given to those who are extremely poor, those who have no income.

He also suggested reviewing the policies that exist for social safety, while adding that going digital is another key to curbing mismanagement.

Most of those who deserve it are not getting enlisted. In many cases, due to political influence, a lot of ultra-poor people are not able to enter the program. As a result, a huge amount of government money is being wasted every year.

Earlier, the government allocated Tk 95,574 crore for programmes under the social safety net in the proposed national budget for the 2020-21 fiscal, with a proposal to expand the coverage of some programmes to alleviate the plight of the poor amid the situation arising out of the Coronavirus pandemic.

As the government had earlier enforced general holidays, lockdowns, closure of factories and businesses to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections, incomes of the common people have reduced, which now threatens the country’s achievements in poverty alleviation and social security.

In order to overcome the situation, the government has taken an initiative to make direct cash transfers to 5 million people in the current fiscal year to alleviate the sufferings of the poor working people, the official said.

In the next fiscal year, the government also plans to increase the coverage of the social security programmes in three areas.

All poor senior citizens in 100 upazilas most prone to poverty due to the coronavirus outbreak will be brought under the old age allowance as per the existing policy.

And this will add 5 lakh new beneficiaries, and an additional allocation of Tk. 300 crore will be provided to this programme.

Besides, all widows and women deserted by their husbands in 100 upazilas most prone to poverty due to the coronavirus outbreak will be brought under the coverage of the allowance programme for widows and women deserted by their husbands as per the existing policy.

This will add 3 lakh 50 thousand new beneficiaries, and an additional allocation of Tk 210 crore will be provided to this programme.

Apart from these, the amount of the allowance for insolvent persons with disabilities will be increased to 18 lakh following the latest disability identification survey.

This will add 2 lakh 55 thousand new beneficiaries, and an additional allocation of Tk. 229.50 crore will be required for this purpose.

In addition, the Maternity Allowance for Poor Mothers, the Working Lactating Mothers’ Assistance Programme, the VGD activities, the Freedom Fighters Honorarium, the Employment Opportunity for the Extreme Poor, the Special Allowance for Improving the Living Standards of Gypsies and Disadvantaged Communities, the Education Stipend and Training for Gypsies and Disadvantaged Communities, the Assistance for Cancer, Kidney and Liver Cirrhosis Patients, the Living Standard Improvement Programme for Tea Garden Workers and other programmes will continue.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started the ‘Rural Social Services Programme’ in 1974 in 19 thanas as part of the strategy to eradicate rural poverty.

Due to the success of this programme, it is now being implemented in all the unions across the country.