DHAKA, Jan 1, 2021 (BSS) – National Social Service Day-2021 will be observed tomorrow under the initiative of Social Welfare Ministry amid different programmes across the country.
The theme of the day this year is ‘Building a Hunger and Poverty Free Society, Services and Opportunities at the End.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages wishing success of all programmes of the day.
The head of the state, in his message, said under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the work of rebuilding war-torn Bangladesh began soon after independence.
Bangabandhu undertook various welfare programmes giving priority to the development of the poor and helpless people and strengthening social security, the president said.
He (Bangabandhu) set a unique example in the country and in the contemporary world by introducing interest-free loan programme in 1974, he said, adding that following this, the government is implementing extensive activities under the social security programme for the development of the disabled, helpless and backward people.
The scope of various social security benefits are constantly expanding to build a sustainable social safety net, he said, adding that all these programmes are playing an important role in ensuring the basic needs of the poor people of the country, social security and empowerment of the people especially women.
Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave priority to the development of helpless and backward people from the very beginning of the reconstruction of war-torn Bangladesh.
In 1974, he undertook rural social service activities for the socio-economic development of the rural poor, introduced interest-free micro-credit programmes and enacted the Child Protection and Development Act, the premier added.
He founded the Care and Protection Center for Children, now known as the “Sarkari Shishu Paribar”, she said.
Following the path shown by the Father of the Nation, Bangladesh Awami League has always been working for the welfare of the poor and backward people of the country, she said, adding that during the 1996-2001 period of the government, the government introduced other allowances including old age, widow and disability allowances and increased the number of jurisdictions, allocations and beneficiaries of the social security perimeter.
“We have enacted the Children (Amendment) Act 2018, Mental Health Act 2018, Bangladesh Rehabilitation Council Act 2018,” she added.
“We have formulated the Homeless Person’s (Rehabilitation) Rules, 2015, Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trust Act-2015 and Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Rules in 2015,” she said.
“I have recognized the ‘Hijra’ community as ‘Hijralinga’,” she said.
For direct provision of money, the government has opened bank accounts in the names of 49 lakh elderly persons, 20.5 lakh widows, homeless and destitute women and 18 lakh indigent disabled and 1 lakh disabled students under education stipend, she said.
The government has entered the beneficiary information database in the concerned software and sent money to 11.65 lakh beneficiaries through e-payment, she added.
“We have provided self-employment to the poor and endangered people through microcredit and vocational training and reared orphans,” she continued.
Both the president and the premier wished success to all the programmes taken on the occasion of ‘National Social Service Day-2021’.