Under the social security scheme, the government allots money each year for the socio-economic development of elderly citizens, widowed and disabled people. However, the allotted people are being deprived of receiving its boon.
In the recent investigation of The Bangladesh Pratidin, the irregularities and corruption in providing these allowances was revealed. From the information sent by correspondents from various districts in the country, it has been known that the elderly citizens, widowed and handicapped people have been facing many difficulties in receiving the allowance provided by the government. The local representatives are delivering allowance cards to their preferred people in exchange of money. Even, cards are being distributed to the name of people who already died. In this circumstance, according to the specialists, the real recipients of the allowances are being deprived off due to nepotism. So, the government has to make the local administration aware of the matter. A part of local authority is engaged with this malpractice. Hence, they have to set under the accountability.
Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Iftekharuzzaman told The Bangladesh Pratidin, "I knew from the information available in various media that the beneficiaries of the allowances decided by the government are getting partial benefits. One of the obstacles in getting adequate benefits is various irregularities in the enlistment of beneficiaries. Especially the mentality of the local, political and administrative influential circles is that they want to see such programs as a way to gain their own benefits. In this they become part of this program by force. Many of those for whom these allowances are intended are not getting the benefits. Many beneficiaries indulge in unethical transactions to get benefits under duress. The local influential people who are involved in this immoral act do not face any accountability for this. They remain untouchable. As a result, this program is creating a major obstacle in the implementation of the great objective of the government. People's money is also being wasted. A type of beneficiary and self-interested group is taking the benefit of people's money. At present, the government is giving old-age allowance to 58 lakh 1 thousand men and women under the social security program. This allowance has been increased from Tk 500 to Tk 600 in the current budget. Apart from this, 25 lakh 75 thousand widows are getting an allowance of 550 taka per month. Now a total of 29 lakh disabled people are getting allowance of 850 rupees per month. And the number of beneficiaries of mother and child support program is 13 lakh 4 thousand.
CPD Survey on Allowance Irregularities: The result of a survey was presented on April 30 this year to assess the loopholes in the country's social security program and improve its effectiveness. According to this survey by Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and BRAC Center in Christian Aid, those concerned have to pay an average of Tk 2, 653 in bribes to get the elderly allowance card. In this, bribery ranges from Tk 500 to 6,000. Many are eligible but don't get the allowance because they can't pay the bribe. Fraudsters grab the old age and widow allowance money under false identities. This is due to administrative weaknesses and failure to identify those in need of social protection. It further mentions that 33 lakh elderly and 2.5 lakh widow women who are eligible to come under social security are still not getting the benefits. This is due to the bias and corruption of UP Member-Chairman and other stakeholders in the selection of beneficiaries. If the allowance is stopped for the ineligible, it is possible to bring 45 percent of the actually eligible people under it.
Cards to people of preference: Investigation revealed that there have been complaints of irregularities in giving cards to destitute widows in different upazilas of Bogra. Irregularities are being done while giving these cards to the people preferred by the chairman and members of some Union Parishads. Sometimes cards are given in exchange of money. It is known that the government provides various supports for improving the quality of the neglected, helpless women and under-privileged people of the country. Widow Ayesha of Mathurapur village ward number 4 of Mathurapur union of Dhunat upazila of Bogra had a widow allowance card. Although Ayesha was able to live with the help of that government money, UP Chairman Hasan Ahmed James Mallick made the identity of the victim as dead and sold that card due to the greed of money. Widow Ayesha Khatun said, 'I got a widow's allowance card through a local nephew. I somehow survived on government assistance. But even though I am alive, the UP chairman has sold my widow allowance card to someone else, making me dead.'
Shorefa Bibi, wife of the deceased Afzal Hossain of the same village, who was listed in Chamrul Union No. 2 of Dupchanchia Upazila of Bogra, said, 'After the death of husband, it was difficult to lead a life with two daughters working in another's house for 10 years. I did not get any card as I could not pay Tk 5000 to the brokers for allowance. But I came to know that I have two VGF and VGD cards in my name.”
The beneficiaries who did not get the card say that the chairman-members of the union council are doing this together. It is true that the cards have been given in the name of the poor, but with the connivance of the chairman-members of the Union Parishad, the cards have been kept in the hands of the card holders without informing them.
Extortion of money in online application: A show cause notice has been issued to the chairman of Daulatpur Union Parishad on the complaint of extorting extra money in online application of mother and child support allowance in Harinakundu, Jhenaidah. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sushmita Saha went to Daulatpur Union Parishad on the morning of August 22 and gave this order to Chairman Abul Kalam after finding the truth of the incident. It is known that in Daulatpur Union Parishad, under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the online application for 'Mother and Child Support' (Maternity Allowance) card is charged an additional Tk 400 to Tk 500 per person instead of the government-fixed fee of Tk 40. On the instructions of UP Chairman Abul Kalam Azad, the businessman of the digital center of that union, Israfil Hussain collected the money. It created wide criticism started on social media. Later, the upazila administration scrutinized the matter and issued a show-cause notice to Chairman Abul Kalam as the allegations were proved.
Daulatpur Union Parishad Chairman Abul Kalam Azad denied taking extra money and said, "I don't know anything about the show cause notice". In this regard, Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Sushmita Saha said that several victims have written complaints against the chairman of Daulatpur Union Parishad. He was then issued a show cause letter.
Living husband being shown as dead: Allegations of taking money on account of office expenses while submitting the book of special allocation of social security allowance for old age, widow and disabled in Lalmonirhat is a daily occurrence. Talking to the victims, it is known that they have to pay from Tk 500 to 2,000 to be included in the list of beneficiaries of social security. Due to failure to pay, very poor old people and widows are deprived of this facility. Again, in exchange for money, the living husband is shown to be dead and widow allowance and the dead person is also nominated for the allowance. In terms of irregularities, Mahishkhochcha and Khuniyagach union of the district is at the top. Complaints are received from the victims that the public representatives in Mahishkhochcha Union prepared a list of relatives to provide the allowance facilities in exchange of money.
On the other hand, Rabeya Begum was nominated for widow's allowance by pretending her living husband was dead in exchange for money. Not only Rabeya, Taramina Begum of Ward No. 1, Oshena Begum of Ward No. 5, Jahanur Begum, Chakina Begum are called widows but they are living in the same house with their husbands. Hashma Begum of Ward No. 9 and Bacha Buri of Ward No. 4 have widow allowance and old age allowance in the name of their husbands. Not only this, the names of several deceased persons are also included in the old age allowance list. However, UP Chairman of Mahish Khocha, Mosaddek Hossain Chowdhury denied these allegations. Aditmari UNO GR Sarwar said the complaint will be investigated and action will be taken. Such a picture is not only in Mahish khochha union, but also in most of the 45 unions of the district. Various irregularities are happening over the allowances issues.
Allowance card and money available if bribe not paid: In Gomstapur of Chapainawabganj district, a complaint has been made against the officials and employees of social service office for taking bribe in payment of allowance card and money. It is known that union social worker Shahnaz Khatun, Shafiqul Islam and office assistant Atiqul Islam of Gomstapur Upazila Social Service Office have been accused of taking money for issuing allowance cards for elderly, widows and disabled. On the other hand, Shahnaz Khatun, a social worker of Rahanpur Union, was caught red-handed while taking money from the beneficiaries. Later the chairman of that union arranged to return the money.
In addition, acting field supervisor Shafiqul Islam has also been accused of taking money with various fake receipts for giving cards to various people. Sultana Khatun, a disabled allowance beneficiary of Nayadiari village of Gomstapur upazila, said Atiqul took 1500 taka from her when she went to the social service office to get a disability allowance card. After a year and a half of payment, his allowance card was activated.
On the other hand Gomstapur Upazila Social Service Officer, Nurul Islam is accused of siphoning off the remaining money with the help of agent banking-affiliates without paying the full amount to the nominees of the deceased beneficiaries. In this regard, Gomstapur Upazila Social Service Officer Nurul Islam said, 'After the death of a beneficiary, his nominee will get three months' allowance. Additionally, if there is some previous money in the account of the beneficiary, then the nominee will get that money also. But I gave them money without scrutinizing it. Gomstapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Asma Khatun said the matter has been informed to the higher authorities.
[Senior reporter from Bogra Abdur Rahman Tulu, Chapainawabganj representative Md. Rafiqul Alam, Lalmonirhat representative Rezaul Karim Manik and Jhenaidah representative Sheikh Ruhul Amin assisted in making the report. The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 4 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque ]
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