Increase allocation for elderly
The discussion titled ' Upcoming budget (2006-2007) and aspirations of elderly people' was organised jointly by Resource Integration Centre (RIC), Samonnoy and daily Sangbad at the National Press Club in the city.
During the pre-budget discussion, the speakers said in spite of increased allocation in current fiscal year (FY), the per capita allocation did not rise if compared to price hike of essentials.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. They said although the total allocation was increased to Tk 324 crore in FY 2005-2006, an amount of Tk 180 per month per person is very negligible.
They said total allocation in FY 2004-2005 was Tk 180 crore and in FY 2003-2004 it was Tk 75 crore.
The speakers urged the government to increase the allocation for elderly people in the next budget to Tk 500 crore.
In a written speech, Samonnoy Chairperson Dr Atiur Rahman said with the modernisation of life, problems of elderly people are getting acute and it is time to address them.
He placed a 22-point proposal for consideration in the upcoming budget to meet the needs of the elderly .
He said the endowment should be reached to the beneficiaries by post and a 'senior citizen card' should be issued for them to get free health care and soft loan for older able-bodied people.
The issue of elderly people should be included in development agenda as their number would be double by 2020, Dr Sharifa, a researcher, said, adding that the elderly people spent their lives to contribute to the development of the society and they should be cared properly in their old age.
She also urged the government to allocate at least one percent of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for their welfare.
Editor of the Sangbad Bazlur Rahman said a social movement should be launched for the aged and mass awareness should be created to address their problems.
The government and non-government organisations including the civil society should come forward in this regard, he added.
Speaking as chief guest, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Amirul Islam Chowdhury said political leaders do not think of the poor.
He said a fair monitoring system should be developed to monitor the governmental allocation for elderly people.
RIC Director Abul Hasib Khan and Dr SM Keramat Ali of Dhaka University also spoke.