Govt to widen old age allowance coverage in 100 upazilas

Bangladesh government on Sunday decided to bring 100 more upazilas under the coverage of old age allowance in the new financial year beginning in July.

It, however, decided not to increase the individual monthly allowance of Tk 500 fixed since 20019-20, said the finance division officials.

They said that the decisions were taken at a meeting of the cabinet committee on the social safety net programme presided over by finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal virtually.

Inclusion of new upazilas will require an extra Tk 500 crore for the old age allowance programme now being run in 262 upazilas, said the officials.

Officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs joined the meeting.

At present, 57 lakh people received old age allowance that was introduced in 1997-98 with a monthly allowance of Tk 100 for each.

It is expected that 11 lakh more people will receive the allowance in the new financial year.

A total of Tk 3,444 crore has been earmarked in the current national budget for meeting the demand for old age allowance.

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/167778/govt-to-widen-old-age-allowance-coverage-in-100-upazilas