48 lakh getting welfare benefits under safety net

The government is providing allowances to 48 lakh widows, physically challenged and elderly people every month under its social safety net programmes aimed at containing the onslaught of poverty in the country.

"The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made remarkable progress in poverty alleviation in the country by providing various allowances and stipend to insolvent and disabled people," said Gazi Md Nurul Kabir , director general of social welfare department.

Kabir said the government has already increased the number of beneficiaries of the programmes from four lakh to around six lakh in the last one year, who are getting monthly allowance of Tk 500 from the government.

"During the same period the number of insolvent elderly rose from 2,720,500 to 30 lakh who are receiving Tk 400 per month while the number of widows rose from 10.12 to 11.13 lakh who are getting Tk 400 every month," he added.

The government has planned to provide identity cards to all physically challenged persons by using the national disability database, and revise the existing development programmes considering the types of disability, according to a social welfare ministry source.