Tk 1,176cr allocated for employment generation: 2.5pc GDP to be spent on social-safety net

As the new government stresses strong and expanded social-safety net in its flagship vision of change, Finance Minister Muhith proposed to allocate Tk 1,176 crore for employment generation for the hardcore poor in a bid to give a shot in the arm of the rural economy.
In his budget speech in parliament yesterday he said almost 15.2 percent of total non-development and development budget, which is almost 2.5 percent of GDP, will be allocated in total for the social-safety-net and social-empowerment programmes aimed at helping out the have-nots.
He proposed Tk 1,137.50 crore for the Stipend Programme at different levels under the social-safety-net programmes. Besides, Tk. 9.80 crore will be spent for the Disabled Students and for their schools.
Muhith proposed an allocation of Tk 810 crore in fiscal 2009-10 for Old Age Allowance. Monthly Old Age allowance will be increased from Tk 250 to Tk 300 and the beneficiary coverage widened from 20 lakh to 22.50 lakh.
He proposed Tk 331.20 crore for the new fiscal year from Tk 61.20 crore from the current fiscal for Destitute Women. Allowance for the destitute women will be Tk 300 per person.
The Finance Minister said monthly allowances for the insolvent freedom fighters will be increased to Tk 1,500 from Tk 900 and the number of beneficiaries from one lakh to 1.25 lakh. He proposed to allocate Tk 225 crore for this purpose.
Muhith proposed monthly allowance of Tk 300 for the insolvent disabled people and also an increase in the number of beneficiaries from 2 lakh to 2 lakh 60 thousand. He proposed Tk 93.6 crore 60 thousand for this sector for next fiscal year.
He proposed an increase in allowance for poor lactating mothers by Tk 50 to Tk 350. This will require an allocation of Tk 33.60 crore which is Tk 11 crore higher than last year’s. He proposed to allocate Tk 25 crore for launching a similar program named Allowance for Lactating Low-Income Working Mothers in Urban Areas.
Muhith also proposed to increase the allocation for the capitation grants to the tune of Tk 6 crore 19 lakh for 16,000 orphan children in public orphanages. Total allocation he said will stand at Tk 23 crore 39 lakh.
In addition, 45,000 private orphanages and 48,000 orphan children will also be given Capitation Grant. For this the allocation will increase by Tk 2.52 crore and the total allocation will stand at Tk 40.32 crore.
Hapless children will also have another share of the budget cake, as an amount of Tk 5.67 crore will be spent on the welfare of the shelterless street children.
Muhith said to tackle any possible disaster, Tk 133.20 crore will be earmarked for different sectors.
The Finance Minister proposed to allocate Tk 20 crore for Women and Freedom Fighters Self-employment Fund, Tk 2 crore for the Acid Burnt Women and Rehabilitation of Physically Challenged/Disabled and Tk 100 crore for Assistance to Poultry Farms.
He proposed Tk 5.41 crore for launching a new program titled Disabled Service and Assistance Centre and Tk 92 crore for implementation of the One Household, One Farm Programme.
Muhith proposed Tk 70 crore for the Maternity Health Voucher Scheme and Tk 173 crore for National Nutrition Programmes for next fiscal year.
The Finance Minister said alongside the operation of open-market sales, Tk 5,877 crore is proposed under the non-development budget for the Food for Work programme, VGF, VGD, TR (food), GR (food) and also for the food assistance in the form of food-security programmes for the CHT.

Courtesy of The New Nation