Experts shy to term many as safety net programmes

Experts termed the allocation for safety net programmes in the proposed budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2014-15 confusing and unmanageable in view of the nature of programmes and the number.
They, however, were hesitant to call some of them as safety net or social protection and empowerment programmes as those are part of education or health development sector.
They also said the proposed number of programmes under the safety net was a deviation from the commitment of the government made in the National Social Protection Strategy.
The government increased the safety net allocation from Tk 266.54 billion in the revised budget of the outgoing FY to Tk 307.51 billion in the proposed budget. The allocation accounted for 12.28 per cent of the total budget and 2.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Talking to the FE, former adviser to caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman said there was no significant change in the proposed allocation for the safety net programmes except for expanding the coverage of some programmes and
the increased allocation for the disabled. The main focus of this year's safety net allocation was the National Social Protection Strategy, he added.
World Bank's lead economist Zahid Hussain said the number of programmes in the proposed budget was shown at 142. But the titles of the programmes were a bit confusing as those were not matching the definition of social protection or social empowerment. For example, construction of Probin Nibas in five divisional headquarters and in one district, construction of Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Centre, CRP-Manikganj, Bangladesh Agriculture Infrastructure Development and Secondary Education Sector Investment Programme cannot be social protection or empowerment programmes.
The noted economist did not back the idea of keeping 'pension' under the safety net programmes as it is a contributory transfer.
"Usually safety net means non-contributory transfer for the poor and vulnerable. If a girl can continue her education up to the degree level, she must not be a poor or vulnerable one," Mr Hussain explained.
He, however, welcomed the proposed allocation for social protection, which was 9.0 per cent of the total budget and 1.7 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), a good amount compared to the global standard. It was also good that the government increased the allocation for cash transfer instead of food-based programmes from Tk 83.98 billion to Tk 86.38 billion. The allocation for employment- based programmes also increased from Tk 14 billion to Tk 15 billion.
He said the government committed to take a life-cycle approach under the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) to address vulnerability of a person at different stages of his life.
"In the proposed programmes under the social protection head, I do not see the reflection of that commitment," Mr Hussain noted.
He said the multiplicity of programmes increased the probability of adverse effect on both inclusion and exclusion, which means an eligible person may not get benefit from a single programme while an ineligible person may benefit from multiple programmes.
It would also aggravate the problem of coordination among different ministries, he added.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) senior research fellow Mahfuzur Rahman told the FE that the number of programmes had been raised from 84 to 132, which would hamper management and increase the leakage.
"We wanted a qualitative change on the operational side of the safety net programmes. At least 20 ministries had 84 programmes earlier, which made the monitoring process difficult," said Mr Rahman.
He said the main reason for increase in the amount was the small new projects. Also the number of beneficiaries increased from 68.1 million to 80.8 million, which was positive. But the total amount of allowance had not increased, he added.      
Mr Rahman said food for work was a good programme, which had a visible impact and aided food security. If the food was provided for work, the poor could be saved from any inflationary impact. Such programmes should be encouraged, he added.