RAJSHAHI, July 8, 2018 (BSS)-the district office of Department of Social
Services (DSS) here has disbursed safety net allowance worth over Taka 600.68
crore among 1.16 lakh beneficiaries since 2009.
Some 69,008 people got old-age allowance worth Taka 217.41 crore while
15,110 others with special needs received disabled allowance of Taka 39.93
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 210.14 crore among 26,715 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 131.93
crore.
Some 182 transgender people got special old-age allowance Taka 15.33 lakh
while 219 bede population were given similar type of allowance worth Taka
17.47 lakh.
Besides, 1,865 physically challenged students were given education sub-
stipend worth around Taka 20.31 crore for their institutional education. One
hundred and 40 transgender students also got allowance worth around Taka 6.43
lakh.
Rashedul Kabir says the beneficiaries have been getting their respective
allowance timely through their own bank accounts. The present 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 present government is very much positive
towards making the hijra and dalit communities self-reliant through income
generating activities.
The government has given importance on 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.