RANGPUR, Feb 23, 2018 (BSS) – Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam at a workshop here today directed the field level officials to bring the real beneficiaries under the social safety net programmes (SSNPs) avoiding overlapping in the selection process.
“The present government has put maximum importance on proper implementation of the SSNPs to alleviate poverty for turning Bangladesh into a welfare state by meeting all fundamental needs of the citizens as ensured by the constitution,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary said this while addressing a divisional level workshop on “Social Safety Net Programmes in Alleviating Poverty” held at Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh in the city as the chief guest.
The Cabinet Division with assistance of the Divisional Commissioner’s Office organised the workshop for the divisional and district level government officials and representatives of different NGOs involved with implementation of the SSNPs.
With Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed in the chair, Additional Secretary to the Cabinet Division Faruk Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range of Bangladesh Police Khondker Golam Faruk and Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Minu Shill, among others, addressed the workshop.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government has allocated Taka 54,000 crore, 13 percent of the total national budget, for distribution among the beneficiaries through 23 ministries as 20 kinds of allowances during the current fiscal alone in the country.
As a result of successful implementation of the massive SSNPs of the government so far side by side with various other programmes, the rate of poverty has come down to only 12 percent now from 46 percent, he said.
“The rate of poverty is continuously decreasing and Bangladesh is gradually becoming free from poverty and the Bangladesh will become a middle income nation on March 22 next much ahead of the year 2021,” Alam said.