In a bid to enable the poor absorb the shock of COVID-19 impact, the budget for next fiscal (FY21) proposed an allocation of Tk 955.74 billion for the social security sector, which is 16.83 per cent of total proposed budget and 3.01 per cent of GDP.
In the revised budget of the ongoing fiscal (FY20), the allocation was Tk. 818.65 billion.
“We are also implementing various programmes for the welfare of marginalised communities besides helping the people with disabilities,” Finance Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal said in his budget speech.
As the government enforced general holidays, lockdowns, closure of factories and businesses to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections, income of the common people has reduced, which now threatens our achievements in poverty alleviation and social security.
In order to save the livelihoods of the poor from the impact of coronavirus-led income shortfall, the government has taken an initiative to make direct cash transfers to 5.0 million people in the current fiscal year to alleviate the sufferings of the poor.
In the next fiscal, the finance minister proposed to increase the coverage of social security programmes in several areas.
According to his proposal, poor senior citizens in 100 upazilas are most prone to poverty due to the coronavirus outbreak and will be brought under the old age allowance as per the existing policy.
This will add 500,000 new beneficiaries, and an additional Tk 3.0 billion will be provided to the programme.
All widows and women deserted by their husbands in 100 upazilas, poverty ridden due to coronavirus outbreak, will be brought under the coverage of the existing allowance programme for women.
This will add 350,000 new beneficiaries, and an additional Tk 2.10 billion will be provided to the programme.
The number of beneficiaries of the allowance for insolvent persons with disabilities will be increased to 1.8 million following the latest disability identification survey.
This will add 255,000 new beneficiaries, and an additional allocation of Tk. 2.29 billion will be required for this purpose.
The finance minister also said other safety net programmes will continue adding that with these incentives, the government will be able to revitalise the rural economy by creating vitality and enthusiasm.
He also proposed to allocate Tk 1.0 billion in FY21 for the ‘Rural Social Services Programme’ to keep the rural economy moving in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and create self-employment opportunities for the poor and helpless in rural areas.
He said, in the light of the National Social Security Strategy Paper, 2015, various social security programmes will be implemented to alleviate the plight of the poor and helpless from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have been increasing the allocation in the social security sector every year to improve the condition of the poor.
By now, about one-fourth of the families in the country have been brought under the social security programme.
