Social safety net widens

The government has enhanced the number of beneficiaries and allowances for some of the major programmes under the social safety nets (SSNPs).

Some Tk 16,725 crore has been allocated for five ministries -- social welfare, women and children affairs, liberation affairs, food and disaster management and relief -- under the bracket of “Social Security and Welfare”, according to budget documents.

In the outgoing fiscal year, Tk 13,955 crore was allocated for the bracket.

But the total amount that has been earmarked for SSNPs for the fiscal year is not explicit in the budget documents.

For instance, a total of Tk 30,751 crore, equivalent to 2.3 percent of gross domestic product, was given for SSNPs this fiscal year.

Last year, the allocation was Tk 26,654 crore, or 2.26 percent of GDP.

The annual budget for fiscal 2015-16 announced yesterday increased the old age allowance beneficiaries to 30 lakh from this year's 27.23 lakh.

The number of beneficiaries for widow, abandoned and destitute women allowance was increased to 11.13 lakh from 10.12 lakh.

Some 6 lakh insolvent disabled persons will now get allowances instead of 4 lakh.

The government has also proposed to increase the monthly allowance for freedom fighters who have crossed the age of 65 years to Tk 10,000 from Tk 5,000.

The number of disabled students receiving stipends will be increased to 60,000 from 50,000, while the number of recipients for maternity allowance will be raised 20 percent.

The government will provide identity cards to all disabled persons by using the national disability database.

The finance minister also said he has made allocations to enhance the living standards of hijra, dalit, harijan and bede communities.

The allocations to provide emergency food assistance to tea labourers and financial assistance to the poor patients suffering from cancer, kidney diseases and liver cirrhosis, were doubled in the forthcoming budget.

Steps will also be taken next year to ensure a fair price for agricultural produces, but there is nothing specific in this regard in the budget documents.

The government has been running SSNPs for years without any coordinated and strategic planning.

The programmes are run by over a dozen of ministries without any effective impact assessment.

This time Finance Minister AMA Muhith has vowed to make SSNPs successful.

For that end, he has proposed some measures including formulating a Social Safety Net Strategy Paper and a project named Strengthening Public Financial Management for Social Protection.

He has also intends to set up a Social Protection Unit in the finance ministry to improve the effectiveness and accountability of SSNPs.

Development Foundation for Elderly People Act, Vagrant and Shelter less Persons (Rehabilitation) Rules, Disabled People's Rights and Protection Rules, Children Rules and Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trust Rules are in the offing to make SSNPs more effective.