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Widow's Allowance

In the financial year 1998-99, the allowance program for widows and widowed women was introduced through the Department of Social Services under the control of the Ministry of Social Welfare. In that financial year, 4 lakh 3 thousand 110 people were given a one-time monthly allowance of 100 taka. In the financial year 2003-04, this program was transferred from the Ministry of Social Welfare to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.


In order to bring more momentum in the implementation of the Widow and Husband Nigrahita Mahila Bhata programme, the government again entrusted the program to the Ministry of Social Welfare in the financial year 2010-11. After being transferred from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to the Ministry of Social Welfare, initiatives were taken to ensure more transparency and accountability in this program and to make it acceptable by revising the existing implementation policies, involving local honorable members of parliament and other public representatives in the selection of beneficiaries, and creating a database. At that time the number of beneficiaries was 9.20 lakh and the monthly allowance was Rs.300 per person. All the beneficiaries of this program launched under the initiative of the present government are being successfully paid allowances through Mobile Financial Service Providers Cash and Bikash and Agent Banking through GTP system (Government to Person). Under this program, a total of Tk 1711.40 crore has been allocated for 25 lakh 75 thousand people in the financial year 2023-24 at the rate of Tk 550 per person per month. Which has already been distributed at the field level.


 


Implementing Office


Department of Social Services


 


Year of commencement of operations


1998-99 fiscal year


 


Aims and objectives of the programme


1. Provision of socio-economic development and social security for widows and widowed women;


2. Increase their status in family and society;


3. Strengthening their morale through financial grants;


4. Providing financial assistance to increase medical aid and nutrition supply


 


Definition:


Under Widows and Spouse Nigrahita Women's Allowance Scheme - 'Widows' shall mean those who


husband dead; 'Swami nigrihita' shall mean those who have been divorced by their husband or for any other reason.


Has not separated from her husband or lived together for at least two years.


 


Candidate Selection Criteria:


(a) Citizenship: Candidate must be a permanent citizen of Bangladesh.


(b) Age: Age must be above 18 (eighteen) years. However, priority should be given to the oldest woman.


(c) Health condition: Top priority should be given to those who are physically disabled i.e. totally incapacitated.


(d) Socio-economic status:


(1) In terms of financial condition: Priority shall be given to the destitute, displaced and landless in order.


(2) In respect of social status: Priority shall be given to the childless, the separated from the family.


(e) Land Ownership: Preference should be given to landless candidates. In this case, the amount of land of a person excluding dwelling house


If he owns 0.5 acre or less he will be considered landless.


 


Eligibility and Conditions of Beneficiary:


1. Must be a permanent resident of the concerned area;


2. Must have Birth Registration/National Identification Number;


3. Preference will be given to aged destitute and distressed widows or widowed women;


4. A person who is destitute, destitute, almost landless, widowed or widowed and having 2 children below the age of 16 years will get priority in getting allowance;


5. The destitute, the poor, the disabled and the sick among widows and widowers will be given priority in getting the allowance;


6. Average annual income of the candidate: Must be less than 12,000 (twelve thousand) taka;


7. To be selected by the selection committee.


                                                                  Statistics


coverage


Budget


Service Description


In the beginning


start time


currently


In the beginning


start time


currently


In the beginning


start time


currently


4.03 lakh people


1998-99


25 lakhs 75 thousand


(2023-24)


40.31 crores


1998-99


1711.40 crores


(2023-24)


1 month trial in a year at the rate of Tk 100 per person per month


1998-99


550 per person per month throughout the year


(2023-24)


 


                                     Chronological increase of widow and husband-wife women's allowance


fiscal year


Number of beneficiaries


(in thousands)


Rate of monthly allowance per person (in Rs.)


Annual budget


(in crores)


1998-99


403.11


100


4.03


1999-00


403.11


100


4.03


2000-01


207.58


100


25.00


2001-02


207.58


100


25.00


2002-03


265.80


125


39.87


2003-04


500.00


150


90.00


2004-05


600.00


165


118.80


2005-06


625.00


180


135.00


2006-07


650.00


200


156.00


2007-08


750.00


220


198.00


2008-09


900.00


250


270.00


2009-10


920.00


300


331.20


2010-11


920.00


300


331.20


2011-12


920.00


300


331.20


2012-13


920.00


300


331.20


2013-14


1012.00


300


364.32


2014-15


1012.00


400


485.76


2015-16 1113.20 400

534.34


2016-17 1150.00 500

690.00


2017-18 1265.00 500

759.00


2018-19 1400.00 500

840.00


2019-20


1700.00 500 1020.00

2020-21 2050.00 500

1230.00


2021-22


2475.00 500 1495.40

2022-23


2475.00 500 1495.40

2023-24


2575.00 550 1711.40