Name of the Program: Improving the Living Standard of Underprivileged Communities

Introduction:  A minor percentage of Bangladesh’s population consists of backward communities. According to a survey conducted by the Department of Social Services, Bangladesh is home to around 14,90,000 backward individuals. To improve the quality of life of backward communities and to integrate them into the mainstream of society, the present government has launched numerous initiatives. From the 2012-2013 fiscal year through the 2018-2019 fiscal year, there were two programs for enhancing the quality of life in disadvantaged and backward communities. During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, this program will be operated independently under the title “Life Quality Improvement Program for Backward Communities.”

Backward Communities

It means socioeconomically and educationally backward communities or classes. It consists of Fishermen, sadhu, rishi, beharas, barbers, washermen, hajams, nikaris, patnis, kaoras, telis, patikars, sweepers, sweepers or dhangars, domars, doms, rauts, domars, doms, rauts, and occupations of the lower classes.

Context:

As of the 2012-2013 fiscal year, seven districts across the nation have been involved in the pilot program. Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gopalganj, Faridpur, Sherpur, Tangail, Chittagong, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Pabna, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Jessore, Kushtia, Barisal, Bhola, Pataakhali, and Habiganj were among the 21 districts where the program was implemented during the 2013-2014 fiscal year During the 2015-16 fiscal year, the initiative is being implemented in a total of 64 districts by adding 43 additional districts to the preceding 21 districts. This initiative was split into the Living Quality Improvement Program of the Bede Community and the Living Quality Improvement Program of the Backward Community for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. This program’s special allowances and education stipends has been delivered through the G2P mode with cash support beginning in fiscal year 2021–2022. 

Aims and Objectives:

1. Provision of stipend at 4 levels (primary 700, secondary 800, higher secondary 1000 and higher 1200 taka per month) with the aim of educating and developing school-going backward students;

2. To increase the skills of working and backward communities through vocational training and to bring them into the mainstream of society by involving them in income generating activities;

3. Payment of special allowance of Tk 500 per person per month to disabled and indigent persons aged 50 years or above;

4. Post Training Resettlement Assistance Taka.10,000/-(Ten Thousand).

Working Area:

The whole Bangladesh that means all the city corporations, all the Upazilas, police stations of the 64 districts of the country, all classes of municipalities and the rural areas of the Union Parisad and backward populations are proportionately.

 Implementing Office:

Following the policy with the help of local government and the public representatives, the Department of Social Services make a list of the Gypsy and drawback students who are above five years old for stipend, allowances for the disabled and insolvent persons who are 50 years old or more. By following the PPA-2006 and PPR-2008 Concerned office will arrange training for the target community by selecting NGOs.

 Starting Year of the program:

2012-2013 fiscal Year.

Required Fees/Taxes/Ancillary Costs: Totally Free

 Relevant Acts/Rules/Policies: Dalit Harizon & Bede, Community Livelihood Improvement Program Implementation Manual 2013

Livelihood Improvement Program Policy of Bede and Backward Communities 2013

 Next remedial officer in case of failure to get specified service:

1. Chairman Upazila Parishad (Concerned Upazila)

2. District Commissioner (Concerned District) or Chief Executive Officer / Regional Executive Officer (Concerned Administration) in case of City Corporation / Municipality.

3. Program Directors