Govt proposes 10pc hike in allowances

The government has proposed a 10 per cent hike in the amount of allowances under social safety net programmes to make it more meaningful.
It is also considering introducing allowances for widows in the areas of city corporations, Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon has said.
"We have already sent a proposal (to the authorities concerned) to increase the allocation of allowances for elderly people, widows, and physically challenged people by at least 10 per cent," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a view-exchange programme on Sunday.
Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) organised the programme at its headquarters in the city.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam attended the meeting as the special guest while PKSF chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presided over it. PKSF Managing Director (MD) Md Abdul Karim was present.
Some 200 Union Parishad (UP) chairmen and chiefs of partner organisations under its 'Samriddhi' project also attended the meeting.
Mr Menon also said widows living in the rural areas only receive the allowances under the social safety net, but widows who are living in the city corporation areas should get such support too.
The country has been making a significant economic progress in recent years, he said. Lauding the PKSF's role in improving poor people's living standards, he said it is essential to include the marginal people in the economic development process.
In his speech, Dr Kholiquzzaman said the foundation focuses on the social and human values apart from economic development of poor people under the 'Samriddhi' programme.
"The aim of the programme is to enhance living standards in multidimensional approach as human life is also multidimensional from birth to death," he added.
He also said the PKSF now focuses more on developing micro-entrepreneurs, which was more focused on micro-financing schemes earlier.
Extolling the PKSF's efforts to alleviate poverty, Mr Shahriar Alam said the country's success in doing so has become an example across the globe.
Regarding the role of UP chairmen in implementing the government's working plan for socio-economic development, he said the UP chairmen's power need to be enhanced. He, however, urged the chairmen to remain free from corruption as there is no strong tool like honesty.

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