Number of insolvent disabled beneficiary rises to 4 lakh, JS told

Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali told the parliament that the number of insolvent disabled beneficiary under social safety net programme has been increased to 4 lakh in the current fiscal 2014-2015. “The government increased disabled allowance to Taka 500 from Taka 350 per month in fiscal 2014-2015,” he told the House on Sunday while replying to a question of treasury bench member M Sanwar Hossain during the question and answer session of the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Besides, the government has also increased old age, widow and divorcee allowance to Taka 400 from Taka 300 under social safety net programme during this fiscal, Mohsin informed the House. He, however, said that the government has no plan to increase the number of beneficiary in the fiscal year 2014-2015, adding, “But the government is considering to increase the number of beneficiary under the social safety net programme in the future.” Replying to another question from reserved seat treasury bench member Advocate Navana Akter, the minister said the government distributed Taka 4.51 crore in Shariatpur district in the fiscal 2013-2014, while Taka 364.32 crore across the country.