Govt plans to bring social security benefits ‘under one umbrella’, says State Minister Farzana

She says the government is reviewing existing beneficiary lists and wants to create a more transparent system for social security allowances

The government plans to bring the beneficiaries of different social security programmes under a single coordinated system, State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin has said.

She made the remarks during Sunday’s question-answer session in parliament.

Farzana answered on behalf of Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain, who was absent from the sitting chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

Responding to a supplementary question from Kushtia-1 MP Reza Ahmed Chowdhury, the state minister said there had been allegations of irregularities in the distribution of social safety net allowances.

“In many cases, bribes are demanded in exchange for allowances. This is definitely corruption,” she said.

“We are trying to make the disbursement system as transparent as possible.”

Describing the government’s “family card” initiative as an effort to identify beneficiaries in a coordinated way, Farzana said: “Gradually, we want to bring all beneficiaries under one umbrella through an integrated approach.”

She also told parliament that the lists of existing beneficiaries were now being reviewed, as they had previously been prepared through irregularities, including favouritism.

Replying to another question, the state minister said the government wanted to ensure transparency in the distribution system and stay away from all forms of nepotism and irregularity.