The poor must not be deprived of family card benefits
One of the promises of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) election manifestos was the family card distribution programme to alleviate the plight of the poor.
The party-led government has announced a date for implementing that promise a week after taking power, which has instilled hope in the public.
According to media reports, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the pilot programme for distributing family cards on March 10.
In the first phase, extremely poor, poor and low-income women from one ward of one union in 14 upazilas will receive these cards.
Cardholders will be given Tk. 2,500 every month. The scope of this programme will be expanded in phases.
Past experience shows that there are various irregularities in the distribution of these cards.
Those with political affiliations are ahead of the poorest in the race to receive benefits.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain has said that no irregularities will be tolerated in the selection process. We also want the minister’s assurance to be properly implemented.
He further said that the family card would not replace existing allowances such as old-age, widow or disability benefits. “Those programmes will continue as usual.”
According to another report, in the near future all state benefits will be available on one card.
The government has planned to issue a ‘social identity card’ or ‘social ID card’ to every citizen, basically on the model of developed countries.
The current family card will later be transformed into a social ID card. TCB, OMS card and other benefits will be available through the social ID card.
The government is planning to distribute cards to 20 million families this year. Not just for the poor, but by the year 2030, identity cards will be made mandatory for all citizens.
It says that cash financial assistance, health insurance, education stipends, agricultural subsidies, old-age allowances, and pension benefits will also be available through the Social ID card.
The government further says information from every stage of a citizen’s life will be continuously added to it. When a student completes his studies, the information will be updated.
Again, if he retires from service or reaches the age of 65, he will be provided with senior citizen benefits.
We hope that we should be careful in distributing family cards so that no poor person is deprived.
The residents of the lowest strata of society should receive government assistance and put a smile on their faces – that is what is desirable.
