The government takes a move to digitise the payment system for the benefits of the underprivileged and distressed people, an official said.
As per the initiative, the department of social services (DSS)- which is under the ministry of social welfare (MoSW)- has set a target to bring all the beneficiaries under digitisation system by July 2020.
"We have set a target to pay financial allowances to the underprivileged people through digitisaiton system considering their benefits," director general (DG) of the DSS Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir told the FE.
Digitisaiton of payment (government allowances) system for the widows, old-aged people, mentally and physically challenged persons, orphans and transgender persons is one of the electoral promises of the present government.
Around 8.33 million people are now enjoying the benefits from the government under its social safety net/ welfare programme.
Out of them 1,79,000 people are now getting financial benefits from the designated banks.
The banks sent messages to the beneficiaries through short message service for withdrawing the money (monthly allowances).
Of the total beneficiaries (8.33 million), 1.7 million are widows while 4.4 million old-aged and 1.64 million disabled.
The DSS official further said that they are working on completing data base of all the beneficiaries.
He said that the DSS has several programmes including poverty alleviation, food assistance to tea garden labourers, financial assistance to the patients of deadly diseases, rehabilitation of the beggars and enhancement of professional skills and online training for unemployed persons.
The government spends around Tk 600 billion annually to uplift the life standard of the distressed people in the country, according to the MoSW.
An old-aged person gets Tk 500 monthly while each widow get Tk 700, each handicapped child gets between Tk 700 and Tk 1200 and each child student gets Tk 1000 as stipend for education.
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