Don't get dependent on safety net allowances: PM

Stating that it is not the responsibility of the government to run every family, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Tuesday her administration is providing various allowances under the social safety net programme so that no one is left starving but it is not to make people dependent on allowances, report agencies.

"We've a goal to provide allowances, no one has to be dependent on it...capable persons should earn his or her own livelihood... we've to ensure that anyone must not be left starving," she said.

The premier said her government doesn't want to build a "work-reluctant" nation, rather it wants that everybody who has work ability to utilise this strength for the country's socioeconomic development.

"We never want Bangladesh be built as a work-reluctant nation. Rather, we want that everybody who has work ability and strength to utilise those for the country's socioeconomic uplift," she made the remarks while inaugurating the National Social Welfare Day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is providing such an amount of money some of which is supposed to be left even after buying of 10 kilograms of rice.

"We don't want to give more than this [amount], or else, one will stop going to work and sit idle at home."

She said capable persons can work and increase his or her income.

"This will contribute to our socio-economic development, we've fixed the amounts of the allowances keeping that in mind," Hasina said.

Criticising a section of civil society members who are very much cynical about the amount of the social safety-net allowances, the PM said these people hardly think practically as their thoughts are centered on a hypothetical ground.

"They see everything only with their hearts but never see anything practically; I heard some of them saying that a family cannot be run with the allowance being given. But, this is not the responsibility of the government to run all the families. Everyone has to run his or her own family," she said.

The PM mentioned that it is the responsibility of the government to take care whether one is left starving and neglected.

"I'm formulating a system so that no one of the country is left starving and neglected," she said.