RAJSHAHI, Dec 28, 2018 (BSS)-The district office of Department of Social
Services (DSS) here has disbursed safety net allowance worth over Taka 601.85
crore among 1.16 lakh beneficiaries during the last 10 years.
Some 69,145 people got old-age allowance worth Taka 217.63 crore while
15,227 others with special needs received disabled allowance of Taka 40.12
crore.
Each of the age-old beneficiaries got Taka 600 and the person with special
needs Taka 700 per month from their respective account-holding banks.
“We disbursed Taka 210.74 crore among 26,915 divorced and other women
repressed by their husband,” said Rashedul Kabir, deputy director of DSS,
adding that 2,404 freedom fighters were given allowance worth Taka 132.10
crore.
Some 195 transgender people got special old-age allowance Taka 15.54 lakh
while 225 bede population were given similar type of allowance worth Taka
17.53 lakh.
Besides, 1,935 physically challenged students were given education sub-
stipend worth around Taka 20.53 crore for their institutional education. One
hundred and 54 transgender students also got allowance worth around Taka 6.74
lakh.
Rashedul Kabir says the beneficiaries have been getting their respective
allowance timely through their own bank accounts. The government has taken
many steps including old-age- allowance for the welfare of poor people to
help them passing their days without difficulty.
“Considering their vulnerable condition, the government has increased their
old-age-allowance and also number of beneficiaries from the current fiscal,”
he said.
Transgender people have started getting skill development training here for
improving their living and livelihood condition.
The DSS organized a 50-day training for them in its regional training
centre early this year. The training will help the extremely excluded
population free from being subjected to repression, discrimination and
negligence in every spheres of their life.
Rashedul Kabir said the government is very much positive towards making the
hijra and dalit communities self-reliant through income generating
activities.
The government has given importance to ensuring fundamental rights
especially the health, social and legal rights of the transgender people for
uplifting their living and livelihood condition.
Mohona Sarker, president of Diner Alo Hijra Society, said the society, as a
whole, should come forward with a positive attitude toward the extreme
socially excluded people for their coexistence in society with decent
livelihood.
Being rejected by families, many grew up hating their bodies, and fall
victim to depression, drug addiction, violence and suicide, she added.
Mohona said general people have a very narrow mindset regarding genderless
people and they should change their mentality.