Government is working to ensure the transparency of its social safety net programme to make it a role model in the world. The government is simultaneously working to make the country a developed and prosperous one by 2041.
Around 11crore people of the country are reaping the benefits of the social safety net programmes. At present 3.01 percent of the country's GDP is being spent on social security programme which is higher than that of many developed and middle-income countries.
According to global information, 1.5 percent of the world's GDP is spent on social security programs. Of these, South Asian countries spend only 0.9 percent of GDP in this sector.
European countries are spending 2.2 percent of GDP, sub-Saharan Africa 1.53 percent, Latin America 1.5 percent, East Asia 1.1 percent and Central Asia 1 percent of GDP on social security.
The government is spending Tk 1,17,715 crore in this sector and playing a vital role in the implementation of various social security programs to curb the poverty rate and achieve the goals of the SDGs.
It will be exemplary in the world if it can ensure transparency in implementation of the programs.
In the context of social security programs, the World Bank has said that Bangladesh’s social safety program is contributing to the reduction of poverty and vulnerability through various forms of assistance under the program,
These programs include income protection for the elderly, widows and people with disabilities, temporary employment for working and older men and women, and support for the healthy development of young mothers and children.
Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed told the media, "Social security programs are playing an important role in alleviating poverty in the country. Besides, it is working hard to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very sincere and generous about the budget of the social security program. As a result, the allocation in this sector will be further increased next year as well".
It is known that 1.07crore poor people have been permanently included in the social safety net program. They are the elderly, widows, the disabled and the destitute.
And aid is being delivered to 8.72crore extremely poor and destitute people through a number of programs, including free food and test relief. As a result, these people do not have to stay hungry. Besides, these programs are playing an important role in reducing poverty and inequality for improving the quality of life.
Apart from this, around 8.7 lakh landless people are getting houses and 74 lakh poor students are being given stipends. Cash assistance of Tk 33,739 crore is being provided to help a large population, food aid is being provided at a cost of Tk 17,981 crore, for construction of houses for the landless Tk 22,140 crore is being spent and for other sectors Tk 43,855 crore is being spent.
World Bank has been assisting the Bangladesh government since 2010 to increase the impact of this protection net program on the poorest families.
This year more vulnerable people under the social safety net will be included.
For the first time under the social security program, all the poor and elderly people in 112 poverty prone upazilas have been brought under the social safety net allowance. For this, five lakh senior citizens have been added to the allowance program this year as compared to last year. At present 49 lakh people are getting old age allowance all over the country including 112 upazilas.