Cancer, kidney patients receive govt grants at hospital

Patients of six types of non-communicable diseases, including cancer and kidney are receiving grants from the Ministry of Social Welfare while sitting in the hospital.

The ministry gave nearly Tk 300 crore in grants to patients in this sector in the last one year. Each patient received a one-time grant of Tk 50,000, reports BSS.

In the 2024-‘25 fiscal year, the ministry provided financial assistance for patients of six major non-communicable diseases, including cancer, kidney, liver cirrhosis, paralysis due to brain stroke, congenital heart disease and Thalassemia.

Through the Department of Social Services, 45,000 patients in 64 districts were provided Taka 225 crore assistance to this end. Direct assistance was provided through the ministry, and 15,000 patients were given Tk 75 crore.

A total of 60,000 people have been provided financial assistance through the Support Services for Vulnerable Groups (SSVG) project.

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare started its journey in 1972 after the independence. Later, in 1989, the Ministry of Social Welfare emerged as a completely separate ministry under a single name.

When the fascist Sheikh Hasina fled in the mass uprising in July last year, an interim government led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus was formed.

Currently, Sharmeen Soneya Murshid popularly known as Sharmeen S Murshid is serving as the adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare. She assumed office on August 9, 2024.

According to ministry sources, after the interim government took office, the ministry adopted and implemented several effective and fruitful programmes for the welfare of the people.

Assistance to Tea Workers: As part of the program to improve the living standards of tea workers, an allowance of Taka 6,000 per person was given in the 2024-‘25 fiscal year which was distributed among 60,000 workers involving Taka 36.26 crore.

At the same time, under the initiative of the Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council, 65 homeless families in six tea garden districts (Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet, Chattogram and Panchagarh) were allocated Taka two crore for the construction of housing according to the approved model for the construction of sustainable housing to improve the quality of life of homeless tea garden workers.

Elderly, widowed and husband’s deserted women allowance: The 'Elderly Allowance' programme was introduced in the 1997-98 fiscal year. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, 60.1 lakh people were given an allowance at the rate of Taka 600 taka per month. The total allocation is Taka 4,350.97 crore.

In addition, the government has provided allowances at the rate of Taka 550 each per month to 27.75 lakh widowed and husband’s deserted women. In the 2024-‘25 fiscal, Taka 1,844.32 crore was given in this regard.

Assistance to people with disabilities: In order to establish equal opportunities and rights for people with disabilities with other citizens, Tk 3,321.77 crore was distributed among 32.34 lakh disabled people in the fiscal year 2024-‘25. The monthly allowance for which was Taka 850 per person.

Along with this, allowances were given to one lakh disabled students for higher education and others in the fiscal year 2024-‘25. For which the allocation was Tk 113.71 crore where the monthly allowance is Tk 900 for primary level, Tk 950 for secondary and higher secondary level and Tk 1300 for higher level.

To establish a sports complex for sportsmen with special needs, the construction of a sports complex is underway at a cost of Tk 486.79 crore on 12.1 acres of land in Baraigram and Dakshin Ramchandrapur Mouza of Savar Upazila.

The government has allocated 4.1 acres of land for Shaheed Farhan Faiyaz Playground on the west side of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital. Necessary measures have been taken to keep them active by organizing sports for disabled children and teenagers in this field.

Hijra Community Quality of Life Improvement Program: A total of 14,129 people have been provided financial assistance across the country to improve the quality of life of the Hijra (trans gender) community. Out of which 12,229 people have received special allowances, 400 have received education allowances and 1,500 have received vocational training.

Assistance for Bede (Gypsy) Community people: In order to integrate the backward Bede community people into the mainstream of society, special allowances and educational allowances have been provided, as well as various vocational training arrangements have been made to raise skills of the working Bede people and involve them in income-generating activities. A total of 10,898 Bede people have been provided financial assistance in the 2024-‘25 fiscal. Of these, 5,600 have received special allowances, 4,398 educational allowances, and 900 vocational training.

Support for backward communities: According to a survey by the Department of Social Services, there are about 14.90 lakh backward communities in Bangladesh such as “Jele” (fishermen), ‘Sannyashi’, ‘Rishi’ or ‘Hrishi’, ‘Beharas’, ‘Dhopa’, ‘Napit’ (barbers) and ‘Haajam’ and so on. In the 2024-‘25 fiscal, 60,000 people were given special allowances, 28,912 people were given educational grants and 1,920 people were given vocational training. The total number of beneficiaries is 90,832 people.

Rehabilitation and alternative employment for beggars: In order to deter people from disrespectful professions like begging, a program titled "Rehabilitation and Alternative.