ZCZC
BSS-06
PM-SOCIAL SERVICES 2 LAST DHAKA
Calling upon all to stand beside the distressed people including the
disabled, the prime minister said her government has been working to ensure
development for all.
“We fought for the country’s independence and we want to build a developed
and prosperous Bangladesh and that uplift will be for all … we’re working
so that everybody from the neglected to the disabled could get this scope
equally,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is going to undertake the Cash Transfer
Modernization (CTM) Project so that all allowance-recipients could get
allowance through electronic system by 2021.
The premier said after assuming office in 1996, the Awami League
government for the first time introduced elderly allowance for the elderly
people.
“At that time, we launched allowances for the widows and the women
abandoned by husband as well as the honorarium for the freedom fighters,” she
said.
The premier said since taking office again in 2009, her government has been
implementing massive programmes to infuse dynamism into rural economy and
ensure durable social safety.
“We’ve increased manifold the allowances for the elderly people, widows and
women abandoned by the husbands, insolvent disabled people and the stipends
for physically-challenged students,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is giving elderly allowance to 35 lakh
elderly people at a rate of Tk 500 in every month in the current fiscal year,
while widow allowance at a rate of Tk 500 per month is being provided to
12.65 lakh women.
“We’re providing Tk 759 crore in this sector every year,” she said, adding
her government has framed various laws to ensure rights and welfare of the
poor people.
The laws, she said, included the Vagabond and Shelterless People
(rehabilitation) Act-2011, the Child Act-2013, the Disabled Persons Rights
and Protection Act-2013, the Parents Alimony Act-2013, the National
Neurodevelopment Disorder Protection Trust Act-2013 and the National Elderly
People Policy-2013.
Reiterating her government’s commitment to ensuring development and welfare
of the children and juveniles, the premier said the activities of 85
government “Shishu Paribar” are underway.
“We’ve set up six technical training centres for the orphans and the
disabled children, while initiatives have been taken for complete flourishing
of street children through Sheikh Russel Child Training and Rehabilitation
Centres,” she said.
The prime minister said the government approved the National Social
Security Strategy (NSSS), Bangladesh and undertook the Life Cycle Base
Programme.
She said the Management Information System has been developed for the
beneficiaries so that the underprivileged people are not deprived.
“Information of 46 lakh elderly, widow and disabled allowance-recipients has
already been incorporated in the system,” she said.
The prime minister said the government has undertaken a work plan for
implementation of the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS).
A project for construction of the Social Services Complex in 64 districts
has been approved by the ECNEC and in the first phase, she said.
She mentioned that Disability Information System (DIS) Software has been
developed to preserve their information and said her government is giving
national identity cards to the persons with disabilities. Newly registered
disabled people will also be provided with such cards, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said over 15 lakh 41 thousand disabled persons have so far
been identified and survey on disability identification is on while
opportunity is also there to participate in the survey through online system.
She said transparency has been ensured alongside reaching social services
to the doorsteps of the people aiming to empower disabled persons in the
private sector through registered organisations.
Sheikh Hasina said a project titled “Child Sensitive Social Protection in
Bangladesh” was implemented in 20 districts of the country from 2012 to 2016
to integrate the distressed children in the families. The second phase of the
scheme, which will be extended for five years, is at the final stage of the
approval, she said.
The prime minister said she had declared to observe the Social Services
Day on January 2 each year during the inauguration of the Social Services
Building in 1999.
Sheikh Hasina said she later announced to observe the National Social
Services Day on January 2 during the function of the National Social Services
Day in 2011. “Since the day is being observed and this day is very important
for bringing dynamism in the society’s development and progress,” she said.
Later, the premier through a video conference inaugurated a “Social
Services Fair” arranged on the Department of Social Services premises at
Sher-e Bangla Nagar.
BSS/SH/GMR/1356 hrs