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Allowance for the Widow and Husband Deserted Women

Like other countries Widows and Husband’s Deserted Women are the most vulnerable and poorest segment of population in Bangladesh.  The Economic position of widows and husband’s deserted woman has been an important social issue in society. Still now husband is the key-provider in all sphere of family lives. After his death family members specially the widow are fallen in to poverty and utmost social in security. Some times specially in the rural areas. they are deprived from the rightful inheritance and husbands belongings.

ii) Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman understood the reality and sufferings of widow and he took initiative for their social protection and security. He included Social Security Clause (15)(d) in the constitution of Bangladesh . Thus widow women get constitutional guarantee for social security at the time of their poverty. But no Head of the Government before Sheikh Hasina Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh in her last tenure came forward to introduce social security programme for the widows and husband deserted destitute women. In 1998 under the Ministry of Social Welfare Allowance for Widow and Husband’s Deserted Destitute Women Programme has started functioning.  But in the financial year-2003-04 the Government transferred this programme from the Ministry of Social Welfare to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.      
iii) The Present Government has taken decision to handover the Programme to the Ministry of Social Welfare from Ministry of Women and Children Affairs again. Accordingly in the fiscal 2010-11 fund for the allowance of the said programme has been allocated infavour of Ministry of Social Welfare in the National Budget. The Government has allocated Tk.759 crore for the 12 lac 65 thousand allowance recipient. Recepients get Tk. 500 monthly payable in every three months.


2. Distribution Criteria of Allowance for the Widow and Husband Deserted Women:  

2.1  Eligibility: 
(i) Allowance recipient must be the citizen of Bangladesh.
(ii) Allowance recipient must have annual income not over Tk. 12000.00
(iii) Allowance recipient must have the National Identity Card/ Birth Registration Certificate.
(iv)  Recipient must be the resident of the concerned local area.
(v) Recipient must be selected by the concerned committee.

2.2 Non- Eligibility:
(i) Pension holder of the Government Service will not be eligible to get the said allowance.
(ii) VGD Card holders will not be eligible to get the said allowance.
(iii) Those who get regular grant or Allowance from the government will not be eligible to get the said allowance.
(iv) Those who get regular grant or Allowance from the Non-government agencies will not be eligible to get the said allowance.

Selection Criteria:   
(i) Allowance recipient must be the citizen of Bangladesh.
(ii) Priority must be given to the senior most widow and husband deserted destitute women.
(iii) Priority must be given to the widow, divorced women, husband deserted women.
(iv) Priority must be given to the wealthless, homeless, landless respectively.

3. Implementing Agency:
 The Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare has been implementing Allowances for the Widow and Husband’s Deserted Women through the National Advisory committee, Upazilla committee and ward Committee. The Allowances are disabused through Banking Channel.