Photo: Collected
A proposal has been made to allocate Tk 136,026 crore for implementing the social security programme in the 2024-25 fiscal year. In the previous year, 2023-24, Tk 126,272 crore was allocated. This means the allocation for the 2024-25 fiscal year has increased by nearly Tk 10,000 crore compared to 2023-24.
Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali has proposed increasing the social security programme allocation by 7.72 percent year-on-year for the 2024-25 fiscal year (FY).
“I am proposing an allocation of Taka 136,026 crore in the next FY2024-25 for the social safety net programme, which was Taka 126,272 crore in the current FY2023-24,” he said while proposing a national budget of over Taka 7.97 lakh crore for FY24-25 at Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Thursday afternoon.
The finance minister said, “Our highest efforts continue to protect the interests and rights of persons with disabilities. In the upcoming fiscal year, the number of disability allowance recipients will increase from the current 29 lakh to 32 lakh 34 thousand. Additionally, the higher secondary stipend rate for students with disabilities will increase from the existing Tk 950 to Tk 1,050.”
He mentioned that the rural maternity allowance and the working lactating mother assistance fund programme in urban areas have been merged and revamped under the National Social Security Strategy to launch the Mother and Child Assistance Programme based on MIS. Under this program, mothers will be given Tk 800 per month for up to 36 months.
An online application process has been introduced to facilitate and ensure access to assistance for mothers and children across the country. Additionally, to further expand the coverage of this program, the number of beneficiaries will increase from 15 lakh 4 thousand 800 to 16 lakh 55 thousand 280 in the upcoming fiscal year.
The minister said the protection and rehabilitation of underprivileged and endangered children are being facilitated through nationwide Sheikh Russell Child Training and Rehabilitation Centres.
Currently, he said, underprivileged and endangered children are being reunited with their families or close relatives, or rehabilitated in other institutions, through the Sheikh Russell Child Training and Rehabilitation Centres located in Gazipur, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur, Barisal, Sylhet, Faridpur, Kushtia, Barguna, Cox's Bazar, Jamalpur, and Shibganj in the Chapainawabganj district. At present, 1,088 boys and 1,216 girls are staying in these centres.
Ali said that as the life expectancy of the population rises, the government is paying special attention to the well-being of the elderly population.
In FY2023-24, he informed, an allocation of Taka 4,260 crore was made to provide a monthly allowance of Taka 600 to 58.01 lakh senior citizens. In the upcoming fiscal year, the number of beneficiaries will increase to 60.01 lakh, and an allowance of Taka 4,351 crore will be made in the upcoming budget.
Moreover, a decision has been made to increase the number of widows and abandoned women receiving allowances from 25 lakh 75 thousand to 27 lakh 75 thousand, with an allocation of Taka 1,844 crore in the budget.
Ali said the education stipend programme for all marginalised communities, including Hijra and Vede, will continue to extend educational opportunities to them.
He said the government is relentlessly working to preserve the history, heritage, and memory of the great Liberation War and to ensure the welfare of the heroic freedom fighters.
“Following the directives of the Prime Minister, the monthly honorarium for all categories of freedom fighters has been increased to a minimum of Taka 20,000 considering the socio-economic status of the freedom fighters,” he added.
Furthermore, he mentioned, the honorarium for the martyrs, freedom fighters holding a title of honour, and war-wounded freedom fighters is now directly deposited into their bank accounts through the Government-to-Person (G2P) system.
“We are providing grants for freedom fighters' honorarium, including festival allowances, Bengali New Year allowances, and Great Victory Day allowances for the freedom fighters who are alive,” he said.
In this connection, he said there are also provisions for medical care and burial expenses after the death of the freedom fighters. “With the objective of giving self-employment opportunities for the heroic freedom fighters and their children, the Bangladesh Rural Development Board continues to provide microcredit facilities,” he added.
Moreover, he said, the programme for the issuance of smart cards and digital certificates to ensure the identity of these heroic freedom fighters, who are included in the integrated list of freedom fighters, is underway.
Additionally, he said, under the 'Housing Construction Project for the Insolvent Freedom Fighters' project, 30 thousand 'Bir Nibas' are being constructed at a cost of Taka 6,097 crore, with the aim of providing free housing to the finest sons of the nation.
Meanwhile, 11,057 Bir Nibas constructions have been completed, and the construction of another 10,889 is in progress, he added.
Messenger/Fameema
