Tk 80m needed to pilot family card prog in eight upazilas

Around Tk 80 million may be required to pilot the "Family Card" programme in eight upazilas across the country for four months in the current fiscal year, the first meeting of a committee formed for the purpose was told on Sunday.

Sources said the meeting, presided over by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, was held at the finance ministry conference room in the capital and discussed the operational framework of the pilot programme.

Officials said the committee discussed whether the piloting would be carried out in eight or 10 upazilas across the country.

Under the current proposal, around 1,000 beneficiaries in each upazila would receive family cards, taking the total number of beneficiaries to about 8,000 if eight upazilas are selected. The meeting decided that the distribution of family cards should be completed before Eid-ul-Fitr.

The committee also discussed the monthly allowance to be provided under the scheme, with options ranging between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,500 per family.

It was decided that the committee would finalise a report on the Family Card by Tuesday and submit it to the prime minister.

The final number of beneficiaries and the amount of allowance will be determined following discussions with the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain, who also attended the meeting, told journalists that there would be no corruption in the issuance of family cards and that the process would be monitored in three stages.

He said the poorest families would be prioritised in receiving the cards, noting that the initiative is an election pledge of the present government.

"The family card will be completely different, and its facilities will also be different," Mr Hossain said.

He added that the government's main objective is to enhance the role of women within families and help restore economic well-being through the Family Card programme.

syful-islam@outlook.com