The government will bring 400,000 more people under the old age allowance programme in the Social Safety Net scheme in next fiscal year (2016-19).
"The government is providing 3500,000 elderly people with Tk 21 billion (Tk 2100 crore) under the Social Safety Net programme while 400,000 more people will be brought under the programme in the next fiscal year," Social Welfare Ministry Additional Secretary Ali Noor said on Saturday.
He said every senior citizen is getting Tk 500 per month under the programme and the number of the beneficiaries is increasing every year.
The government is implementing the programme to ensure dignity, medical treatment and other facilities of the elderly people of society to make their mental strength stronger; he said adding that different committees have been formed at the national, district, city, upazila and union levels to supervise the programme.
Social Welfare Ministry Joint Secretary Sayeeda Naem Jahan said the number of old age allowance recipients was only 430,000 when the programme was introduced in 1997-98. The number stands at 3500,000 now and it is increasing every year.
Non-government organisation Prabin Bandhu Executive Director Dr Mohsin Kabir Limon said at present the number of elderly people in Bangladesh is around 13 million (1.3 crore) while it will stand at 18 million (1.8 crore) in 2025, around million 45 million (4.5 crore) in 2050 and 55 million (5.5 crore) in 2061.
Nearly 20 per cent of the total population will become senior citizens by 2050 and the number of children will stand at 19 per cent, he said, adding the number of elderly people aged above 80 is increasing fast.
Limon said the average life expectancy is now 72 years. By 2050, the ratio of elderly people and children will be equal.
He urged the government to extend the circumference of old age allowance further to bring the elderly people under the Social Safety Net Programme to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs), reports BSS.