Social safety to get priority in next budget

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain has said the government has a master plan for the fundamental transformation of the country's social safety net sector, women's empowerment, child protection and improving the living standards of marginalised communities.
In an interview with BSS ahead of the upcoming fiscal year budget he clarified the government's stance on various issues including expanding the scope of the Family Card, the 'One Citizen, One Card' policy, zero tolerance for preventing violence against women and children, and utilising the demographic dividend.
Dr AZM Zahid said: "Current government's goal is to build a humane, governance-based and democratic Bangladesh. To achieve this goal, social safety net programs will be made more extensive and effective."
"The social welfare and women and children sectors are extremely important for us. It's not possible to do everything in one day, but their scope will be expanded step by step.
This philosophy will be reflected in our next budget," he added.
The Minister further informed that the priorities of the social safety net sector were clarified at a recent meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) with presentations by the Minister of Finance and Planning.
The lion's share of core social safety net activities is carried out through the Social Welfare Ministry and the Women and Children Affairs Ministry. The government is giving them the highest priority.
"Certainly everything cannot be done overnight, but you will see in the upcoming budget how we can expand its scope and increase services step by step. Adequate promises or allocations are being made in the budget for this," said the minister.
Dr Zahid disagrees with viewing social safety net allowances merely as handouts. He sees them as a far-reaching economic investment.
"The purpose of this allowance is not to make someone lazy by giving them money. This money is actually one kind of investment. After receiving this money, families can manage their children's school expenses, clothing or nutritious food.
At the same time, to increase the family's purchasing power, they will be encouraged in income-generating activities like raising poultry or livestock, planting trees, and vegetable farming," he said.
Explaining the economic cycle of social safety net, he said, "This is an indirect investment. When a beneficiary produces agricultural goods with the money and sells those in the market, it contributes to the GDP.