Tk12,869cr proposed in new budget for Ministry of Social Welfare

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday proposed allocating Tk 12,869 crore for Ministry of Social Welfare for fiscal year (FY) 2024-2025, which is Tk 1,317 crore higher than the allocation in the revised budget for FY 2023-2024.

"The Ministry of Social Welfare provides capitation grants to orphans and underprivileged children in private orphanages as part of the social safety net. Recently, software has been developed as a part of piloting programme to provide capitation grants using the Smart System (G2I) to private orphanages. For this purpose, piloting program has already been completed in four districts of Dhaka division (Dhaka, Narayanganj, Narsingdi and Gazipur)," Ali said.

 The minister also said in the next FY 2024-25, the piloting programme will be expanded to all 64 districts. By the FY 2025-26, capitation grants will be distributed directly via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) using the Smart System (G2I) to the private orphanages and institutions across the country, he added.

 While talking about the Disability Protection Program, the finance minister said in the next financial year, the number of disability allowance recipients will be increased from the current 29 lakh to 32.34 lakh. Besides, the stipend for students with disabilities will be raised from Tk 950 to Tk 1050 at the higher secondary level, Ali further said.

 "As the life expectancy of the population rises, the government is paying special attention to the well-being of the elderly population. In the upcoming fiscal year, the number of beneficiaries will increase to 60.01 lakh and an allowance of Tk 4,351 crore will be made in the 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 and allowance of Tk 1,844 crore will be allocated in the budget, he added.

 Reiterating the government's commitment to safeguard socially marginalised groups, including the Vede and Hijra communities, Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in his budget speech said currently, allowances are being provided to 6,880 individuals from the Hijra community to raise their living standards.

 "There is a plan to widen the coverage of this support to a total of 12,629 people in the next fiscal year. Besides this, we will continue to provide allowances for the Vede community. In the upcoming fiscal year, a total of 9,832 individuals from other socially backward groups will be brought under the coverage of allowances," Ali said.