Social Safety Net Programs-The New Nation

Governance In Social Safety Net Programs

Tanjil Ahmed

Though the people around the world are trying to adjust to the 'New Normal', the present world is going through a terrible situation. Horrific coronavirus has already broken all the records of the 21st century. Billions of people are being directly or indirectly affected. In all least-developed and middle-income countries, the economy, education, health, tourism, business, domestic and foreign trade have collapsed. Bangladesh, an example of a rapidly advancing economy in Southeast Asia, has not escaped from the scourge of coronavirus. Addressing this issue, at the discretion of the Honorable Prime Minister, maximum efforts are being made to ensure food security and reduce health risks for marginal and lower and lower-middle-income people under the Social Safety Net Programs.

Accordingly, in the financial year 2019-2020, 74367 crore taka was allocated for SSNPs which was 14.21% of the total budget and 2.58% of the total GDP). However, in the current fiscal year (2020-21), the government has allotted Tk 95,574 crore for social safety net programs to fight against poverty and COVID-19 related issues.

It is notable that govt's allocation for SSNPs have eulogized because this allocation is carrying the need for marginalized and backward sections of the society where it has covered the16.83% of the total budget and 3.01% of the GDP (Finance Division, Ministry of Finance). Conversely, experts dread that this allocation is not still enough to feed and sustenance the huge number of low-income, marginalized and backward sections.

At present, 125 SSNPs are ongoing under the supervision and authorization of 25 ministries in Bangladesh. Such SSNPs are classified into 3 categories- unconditional cash transfer, conditional cash transfer, and an emergency fund for housing and rehabilitation.

Among these, the most common programs are old age allowance, widow allowances, vulnerable group feeding (VGF), vulnerable group development (VGD), food for work (FFW), work for money (WFM), disaster management, street children rehabilitation program, one house one farm, social security policy support (SSPS) programs, etc. Such Social Safety Net Programs have been playing an important role to fight against various local and national problems.

Especially, during the Covid-19 pandemic, SSNPs have helped marginalized, poor, and low-income people in distinct parts of the country. It is to be noted that soon after the outbreak of coronavirus in Bangladesh, a number of programs & projects have been taken and initiated under the SSNPs in collaboration with various ministries.

Emphasized programs are- the School Feeding Program project that distributes nutritious food for 30 lakh primary school students; a cash disbursement program of tk. 2500 to 50 lakh families; provide 17,866 crores in the budgetary support to the underprivileged people; 3,000 crore loan program for low-income professionals, farmers, and marginal and small traders without collateral.

Moreover, supply of 6,000 tons of food grains under social security project; provide direct cash assistance to about 50 million people; health protection project for 1.1 million Rohingya refugees; distribution of 74,000 metric tons of rice worth tk. 251 crore at 10 tk. per kg under OMS project; allowance of tk. 615 Crore for widows and old age under Social Security Program etc have also provided. Read the full article from here

The writer is an ex-student of the Department of Public Administration and Governance Studies, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Email: tanjilahmedtaj@gmail.com