Social safety nets in Bangladesh: an analysis of impact of old age allowance program
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Date
2013-02Publisher
BRAC UniversityAuthor
Uddin, Md. AnsarMetadata
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Older people are known as ‘senior citizens’ of the society, respected by the family,
society and even by the nation. But due to various socio-economic reasons, the
traditional values and customs are not maintaining properly. Due to degradation of moral
values, the younger population considers the experience and knowledge of the elders to
be obsolete. The elder people thus become more vulnerable in the society. The Old Age
Allowance Program was introduced by the government of Bangladesh to protect the
vulnerable elder people from insecurity during 1998. The main purposes of this program
are to strengthen the mental force of the aged persons, increase their status in the family
and society, and bring back their sense of security in the society through government
interventions.
This study has been undertaken to examine the impacts and implications for the old age
allowance program for selected beneficiaries in the study area and to identify the factors
influencing the operations and performance of the program. In the study mixed method
(both quantitative and qualitative method) was used in collecting data from the field.
Primary data were the main source of information to understand the performance of the
program. Primary data were collected through questionnaire survey and case study. For
this study two unions, Dakua and Galachipa of Galachipa Upazila were selected. The
study area has been chosen considering disaster risks and vulnerability. To gather
information, program beneficiaries and key informants of two Union Parishads were
contacted. Secondary data were collected from different sources including
implementation guidelines of the program, books, journals and websites related to the study. The empirical evidence shows that the program has a positive impact on the food
accessibility of the beneficiaries. It is revealed from the field survey that both the quality
and quantity of food of the beneficiaries has been improved after receiving the allowance
than before. The beneficiaries of the program can also fulfill their minimum requirement
of necessary medicine by the allowance during illness. The observations of the key
informants and the respondents’ information exhibit that the beneficiaries of the program
can meet their minimum basic requirements (foods, clothes and medicine) after receiving
the allowance. Study also shows that the status of the beneficiaries have increased in
terms of family members are taking more care than before and the older people get
involvement in decision-making in the family. Thus, it could be said that the quality of
life in terms of fulfillment of basic needs of the respondents has improved considerably.