Bangladesh to Launch Nationwide Family Card Program to Streamline Social Safety Nets
Photo Collected
The Bangladesh government is set to launch a nationwide “Family Card” program within the next 10 to 12 weeks, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in social safety net distribution. Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister A.Z.M. Shafiul Alam said the initiative is designed to deliver benefits directly to citizens’ doorsteps, eliminating the need for recipients to travel to government offices.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting with government officials in Rangpur on Saturday, the minister explained that the program will rely on a digitized selection process. Authorities will collect data from households and upload the information to a central database. A Proxy Means Test (PMT) scoring system will then automatically identify eligible recipients, with subsequent verification processes ensuring accuracy.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The government has already completed a three-month pilot program across 58 wards, which provided critical data on operational challenges and necessary improvements. Minister Shafiul Alam emphasized that the initiative is intended to reach the ultra-poor, the impoverished, and low-income populations. He reaffirmed the government’s “zero-tolerance” policy regarding corruption, warning that any malpractice or exploitation within the system will be met with strict accountability.
Addressing the challenges facing disability support services, the minister acknowledged a significant shortage of specialized educators. He noted that the country currently operates only one college for training teachers in disability education, located in Mirpur. To address this gap, the government is actively reviewing the approval process for disability schools. The administration plans to establish standardized schools in every district and at least one in each upazila to ensure that individuals with disabilities have consistent access to specialized training and resources.
বিজ্ঞাপন
0%
0%
0%
0%
