ZCZC
BSS-37
BUDGET-FY21-SOCIAL SECURITY
Tk 95,574 cr allocated for social safety net programmes
DHAKA, June 11, 2020 (BSS) – The government has allocated Taka 95,574 crore in the social security sector, which is 16.83 percent of total budget and 3.01 percent of GDP in the fiscal 2020-21.
“In the revised budget of FY2019-20, the allocation was Taka 81,865 crore. We are also implementing various programmes for the welfare of the marginalised communities besides helping the people with disabilities,” Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal read in the budget speech.
In his speech, Mustafa Kamal said as the government enforced general holidays, lockdowns, closure of factories and businesses to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections, income of the common people has 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,” he added.
He said 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. “This will add 5 lakh new beneficiaries and an additional allocation of Taka 300 crore will be provided to this programme,” he added.
The fiancé minister said 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 Taka 210 crore will be provided to this programme,” he added.
He said the number of beneficiaries 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 Taka 229.50 crore will be required for this purpose, he added.
Kamal informed that 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 Program for Tea Garden Workers, etc. will continue.
He said the 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, he added.
The minister hoped that with this incentive, Bangladesh will be able to revitalize the rural economy by creating vitality and enthusiasm.
“I propose to allocate Taka 100 crore in the fiscal 2020-21 for the ‘Rural Social Services Programme’ to keep the rural economy moving in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and create self-employment opportunities for the poor and helpless people in rural areas.
The finance minister said in the light of the National Social Security Strategy Paper, 2015, various social security programmes will be implemented to alleviate the plight of the poor and helpless people from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have been increasing the allocation in the social security sector every year to improve the condition of the poor. By now, about one-fourth of the families in the country have been brought under the social security programme,” he added.
BSS/KUC/FI/ 1855 hrs