Editorial
Social safety net programmes falling short
Large percentage of poor left out
Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS), the half-yearly nationwide survey published by the International Food Policy research Institute (IFPRI) has unearthed some disturbing facts about the eighty or so social safety net programmes the government runs. What has been presented in the study is the target poor populace for these programmes which represents 40 percent of the total population ended up receiving only 55 percent of the intervention benefits. The rest 45 percent of social safety net benefits ended up with the richer 60 percent, who do not fall in the poorest or most vulnerable category. Needless to say, such results are less than satisfactory and a huge waste of government resources.
The fact that the findings of the study have not been wholly rebutted by the government goes to show that it is not without merit. What it does show is that some of the major components of programmes designed from outset to reach the truly needy, such as vulnerable group development (VGD), vulnerable group feeding (VGF) and gratuitous relief (GR) are being diverted to serve the interests of the comparatively richer segment of population. Obviously, something is not going right in terms of implementing these crucial programmes either due to ignorance or graft.
In other areas, particularly agriculture, the study highlights the steady and alarming loss of farmlands. Such decrease is unavoidable due to conversion of agro-lands for housing and industry. With both northern and eastern zones of the country reaching saturation point in terms of agricultural expansion and utilisation, special focus is needed to exploit the southern belt of Bangladesh districts where soil generally suffers from high salinity levels. Interestingly the rice research institutes of the country have developed several varieties of saline-resistant crops. These have shown success in field tests. What is now becoming increasingly apparent is that policy focus must be realigned southwards which at one time was known as the bread basket of the country. Greater research on stress-resistant crops together with prioritisation to fully exploit the southern districts could go a long way to help feed the millions who otherwise go hungry.
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