Family Card: Strengthening Social Protection for Women

Social protection programmes have long played an important role in Bangladesh’s development journey.

Over the years, the government has introduced various safety net initiatives to reduce poverty, narrow social inequality, and improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups.

These programmes have become important policy tools for supporting people who remain economically and socially disadvantaged.

Yet the reality on the ground suggests that within poor and marginalized communities, women often face the greatest levels of economic insecurity and social vulnerability.

In many low-income households, women experience greater financial uncertainty because of several structural factors.

Limited household income, irregular employment in the informal sector, rising inflation, and persistent social discrimination create serious challenges in their daily lives.

For many women, meeting even the basic needs of their families such as food, healthcare, and education remains difficult.

Ensuring women’s economic security and social protection is therefore not only a humanitarian responsibility but also an essential step toward building a just, inclusive, and sustainable society.

In this context, the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the chairman of the BNP has announced the introduction of the “Family Card” programme as part of its electoral commitment.

The initiative seeks to strengthen family-based social protection by providing financial assistance directly to vulnerable households.

One of the most significant features of the programme is that the card will be issued in the name of the female head of the household, and the financial support will be transferred directly to her mobile wallet or bank account.

This approach places women at the center of household welfare and financial decision-making.

On the one hand, poor families will receive regular financial assistance to help meet essential expenses.

On the other hand, directing financial support to women may strengthen their position within the household.

In many poor families, women traditionally have limited influence over economic decisions.

When social assistance reaches them directly, they are more likely to participate actively in managing household expenditure and shaping family priorities.

The guiding philosophy behind the Family Card programme is that the family, rather than the individual, should be the central unit of development.

When the financial stability of a family improves, the benefits extend beyond immediate income support.

Greater household security often leads to better nutrition, improved healthcare, and increased educational opportunities for children.

In this way, family-centered social protection can contribute to long-term human development.

International experience provides valuable examples of family-based and women-centered social protection programmes.

Brazil’s Bolsa Familia programme is widely recognized as one of the most successful conditional cash transfer initiatives in the world.

Under this programme, poor families receive regular financial assistance, and payments are generally transferred directly to mothers’ bank accounts.

Research has shown that the programme significantly reduced extreme poverty and increased school attendance among children.

Mexico’s Progresa, later known as Oportunidades, offers another notable example.

In South Asia, Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) stands out as a major women-centered social protection initiative.

Under this programme, financial assistance is delivered directly to female members of poor households. The initiative has strengthened women’s financial roles within families while improving overall household welfare.

These international experiences clearly demonstrate that women-focused social protection programmes can be effective in reducing poverty and promoting inclusive development.

If implemented successfully in Bangladesh, the Family Card initiative could produce similar outcomes by strengthening women’s economic empowerment and improving family well-being.

However, an important question remains: where, how, and at what cost will the programme be implemented? According to the Family Card Piloting Implementation Guideline 2026 (Draft), jointly prepared by the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Department of Social Services, the first phase of the programme will cover 6,500 poor families in 14 selected areas of the country.

The total budget for the pilot initiative has been estimated at Tk 2,10,72,325, of which Tk 1,62,00,000-around 77% will be distributed directly to beneficiaries.

The pilot areas have been selected based on poverty concentration, geographical diversity, and the level of social vulnerability.

Beneficiary households will be identified through the Proxy Means Test (PMT) scoring system, which ranges from 0 to 1000.

Families within the first quantile (0–777) and the second quantile (778–796) will be considered eligible for inclusion.

Eligibility criteria have also been defined. Rural households must own no more than 0.50 acres of land, including both homestead and cultivable land.

Families with government employees, pension recipients, large businesses, commercial licenses, or luxury assets such as private cars and air conditioners will not qualify.

Priority will be given to landless households, homeless families, persons with disabilities, and socially marginalized groups, including the third gender, Bede communities, and ethnic minorities.

Under the programme, the Family Card will be issued in the name of the mother or the female head of the household. Each eligible family will receive a monthly cash transfer of Tk 2,500.

The funds will be transferred directly from Bangladesh Bank to the beneficiary’s mobile wallet or bank account through a government-to-person (G2P) digital payment system.

In addition to cash support, the smart card will allow beneficiaries to access subsidized food assistance through QR code and OTP verification. In the future, the platform may also include additional services such as educational stipends and agricultural subsidies.

The government has also set a long-term target of transforming the Family Card system into a universal Social ID Card by 2030, integrating different social protection programmes under a single digital platform.

Despite its potential benefits, the successful implementation of the Family Card programme may face several challenges.

One of the most significant concerns is financial sustainability. While the pilot phase involves a limited number of families, expanding the programme nationwide could require a substantial increase in public expenditure.

If the scheme eventually covers 20 to 25 million families, the annual cost may reach several thousand crore taka.

The prime minister has also expressed the ambition to include up to 40 million families under the programme, which would further increase pressure on the national budget.

Although the government aims to raise social protection expenditure to around three percent of GDP, achieving this target will require stronger revenue mobilization, improvements in the tax-to-GDP ratio, and careful prioritization of public spending.

Another challenge relates to the risk of dependency. Regular cash transfers can improve the immediate consumption capacity and food security of poor households.

However, if the programme is not linked to skill development, employment opportunities, microenterprise support, or other income-generating activities, it may remain limited to short-term welfare support rather than long-term poverty reduction.

Administrative capacity and transparency are also important issues.

Beneficiary selection committees have been formed at the upazila, union, and ward levels, mainly consisting of government officials.

Without meaningful participation from civil society, local representatives, and community stakeholders, questions may arise regarding transparency and accountability in the selection process.

Finally, the success of the digital payment system will depend on reliable network connectivity, adequate digital literacy among beneficiaries, and strong data protection measures.

Technical errors or outdated information systems could lead to the exclusion of deserving families or the inclusion of ineligible beneficiaries.

In essence, the Family Card initiative represents more than a simple cash transfer programme. It is also a test of the country’s financial capacity, administrative efficiency, technological readiness, and governance standards.

If implemented with transparency, sustainability, and effective coordination, the programme could play a transformative role in strengthening Bangladesh’s social protection system and improving the lives of vulnerable women and disadvantaged families.

(The author: Professor (Selection Grade), Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka)