Streamlining SSNPs

Defying many odds, Bangladesh has unmistakably made enviable progress in reducing poverty. In this context, the contribution of the Social Safety Net Programmes (SSNPs) has been duly recognised. A meeting on "Present Status and Way forward of Social Safety Net Programme in Light of Social Audit" held in the city last Saturday focused on the critical issue of such programmes' mechanism for implementation. Indeed, the country has every reason to take pride in formulating policies and programmes aimed at supporting the vulnerable in society. Diversification of programmes, along with increased allocation over the past few years, has received acclaims from all quarters. But unfortunately such a well-intended move has not been sufficiently complemented at the implementation level. The meeting identified mismanagement, corruption, political influence, poor monitoring and lack of coordination among ministries and divisions responsible for not getting the full benefits of the programmes.
Well, this has ever remained a problem in this country. Poor records in implementation of plan and programmes at times become highly frustrating for policy-makers. There is a tendency on the part of implementers at different tiers to misdirect the benefit of such programmes in order to have an undue personal or collective share of the same. The target people are either ignored on flimsy grounds or even deliberately in the absence of transparency and accountability. Public funds thus go waste, courtesy of corrupt elements. In such cases, political influence comes to their rescue. It is not for nothing that Bangladesh's economic achievement has defied logic. Had the resources available for the country's development been properly used without abuse and misappropriation, it would have indeed symbolised the ultimate economic miracle. Whether that would have also established social justice the country's founding fathers and freedom fighters dreamt of is, however, a different proposition. Wealth creation alone does not address social inequality; there is need for social welfare programmes in order to bring the bottom segments out of the poverty trap. It is because of this, the SSNPs matter so much in bringing sanity in Bangladesh's development paradigm.        
So far the path of development followed has not gone off the mark. In its quest for dispensing socio-economic justice to all the citizen, the SSNPs can play a most significant role. But the programmes have not been streamlined so that their full benefits can be accrued. What is going on in the name of SSNPs is not quite unknown. But then what makes one wonder is why measures are not being taken to address the problems at different points of implementation. The political leadership deserves thank for pursuing such welfare programmes. But those who are responsible for the execution of those programmes at the field level are not sufficiently diligent and efficient in discharging their duties. Thus programmes like the SSNPs limp and fail to deliver the goods. The need, therefore, is to ensure integrity, transparency and accountability at all levels of the programmes' implementation.