The government is launching the 'Family Card' program in 15 wards of 13 city corporations and unions in 13 districts of the country under the pilot project. In the first phase of the program, a total of 37,564 female-headed families from different areas of the country will get these cards.
Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain shared this information at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Monday.
He said that the Prime Minister will formally inaugurate the program at 10 am at the T&T playground in Banani (adjacent to the Karail slum) in the capital.
The minister said, “This initiative has been taken with the aim of empowering women and establishing social justice. By recognizing the woman as the head of the family and issuing 'Family Cards' in her name, various social security benefits will be easily delivered.”
He said, “A maximum of five members of a family will get benefits through each card. However, if the number of members in a joint or conjoined family is more than five, the issue of issuing multiple cards on a proportional basis will be considered.”
The beneficiaries selected in the pilot phase will receive a monthly allowance of Tk 2,500. The minister said that in the future, the issue of providing food assistance of equal value will also be considered.
He also said, “If the female head of household selected for the family card receives any other government allowance or assistance, that benefit will be considered canceled. However, other members of the family will be able to continue receiving their due allowance.”
He said that although information on 67,854 female-headed households was initially collected, after verification, 37,564 families have been finally selected for the allowance.
The Social Welfare Minister said, “The family card allowance will be deposited directly into the mobile wallet or bank account of the beneficiary women through the G-2-P (Government to Person) method. In this, the beneficiaries will receive government assistance sitting at home without any delay or mediation.”
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
