DHAKA, Jan 1, 2022 (BSS) - National Social Service Day-2022 will be observed in the country tomorrow at the initiative of Social Welfare Ministry through different programmes. 
 
This year’s theme of the day is ‘Mujib Borsho er Sofolota, Ghorei Paben Sokol Vata.’
 
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages wishing success of all the programmes taken on the occasion of 'National Social Service Day-2022'.
 
The head of the state, in his message, said: “I welcome the initiative of the Ministry of Social Welfare to celebrate 'National Social Service Day-2022'.”
 
For the massive development spree of information technology in the country, the allowances of social safety net programme are reaching the doorsteps of the people through mobile financial services under Government to Person (G2P) system, he said.
  
The president added that under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the work of rebuilding war-torn Bangladesh began soon after independence. 
 
Bangabandhu undertook various welfare programmes giving priority to the development of the poor and helpless people and strengthening social security, he said. 
 
He (Bangabandhu) set a unique example in the country and in the contemporary world by introducing interest-free loan programme in 1974, he said, adding that following this, the government is implementing extensive activities under the social safety net programme for the development of the disabled, helpless and backward people. 
 
The Department of Social Services (DSS) under the Ministry of Social Welfare is implementing social safety net activities through some 52 programmes, Hamid continued.
 
Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave priority to the development of helpless and backward people from the very beginning of the reconstruction of war-torn Bangladesh.
 
In 1974, he undertook rural social service activities for the socio-economic development of the rural poor, introduced interest-free micro-credit programmes and enacted the Child Protection and Development Act, the premier added. 
  
Following the path shown by the Father of the Nation, Bangladesh Awami League has always been working for the welfare of the poor and backward people of the country, she said, adding that during the 1996-2001 period of the government, the government introduced other allowances including old age, widow, and disability allowances, freedom fighter’s honorary allowance and increased the number of jurisdictions, allocations and beneficiaries of all sectors of the social safety net belt.
 
In the last 13 years, the Awami League-led government has implemented a comprehensive programme for the welfare and development of disadvantaged people in the country including the destitute, poor, helpless children, the disabled, adolescents, women (who are mistreated by husbands) and the elderly people, the premier added.
 
In the current financial year, 57.01 lakh people are getting old age allowance while the allocation in this regard is Taka 3,444.54 crore, she said, adding that 24.75 lakh widows and women (who are mistreated by husbands) are receiving allowance.
 
Disability allowance is being provided to for 20.08 lakh people and stipends are being provided to 1 lakh disabled students in 2021-22 financial year, she said.
  
“In the Mujib Year, we promised that the money of the beneficiaries of the social safety net program would reach the doorsteps of the people through G2P system,” she said, adding that the government has fulfilled that commitment by providing cent percent of the beneficiaries' money in the financial year 2020-21 through mobile financial services and agent banking.
 
“We are providing financial assistance to improve the living standards of tea garden workers. Training, special allowances and education stipends are being provided to improve the living standards of Hijra, ‘Bede’ and marginalized people,” she said.
 
Financial assistance is being provided to cancer, kidney, liver cirrhosis, stroke, paralyzed and congenital heart patients, she added.
 
The premier hoped that the Ministry of Social Welfare will contribute to building the golden Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty as dreamt by Bangabandhu by implementing new programmes for the protection and development of the rights of the destitute, helpless and disabled people of the country.
 
She called upon all government and non-government organizations and people of all strata to work together to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041.