SANGSAD BHABAN, June 14, (V7N) – Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain today told parliament that the government is attaching special importance to cottage industries and handicrafts as a means of improving the socio-economic condition of poor and destitute women. Replying to a written question from treasury bench member Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, he said the Ministry of Social Welfare has been implementing various training and income-generating programmes to help disadvantaged women become self-reliant.

The Department of Social Services operates two socio-economic training centres at Mirpur in Dhaka and Shalbon in Rangpur, where women receive training in leather goods production, block-batik printing, flower making, wool knitting, doll making, tailoring, embroidery, beauty parlour services, garment production, and bamboo and cane crafts. The minister said women from lower and middle-income families are being equipped with practical skills that can help them secure employment or launch small businesses.

Highlighting the government's efforts to integrate disadvantaged women into mainstream economic activities, Zahid Hossain said women aged between 18 and 50 are provided training in sewing, cutting, block printing, batik, and handicrafts under programmes for improving the living standards of marginalized communities. Beneficiaries are also provided with post-training assistance to help them establish sustainable livelihoods.

The minister informed parliament that a project titled "Improvement of Living Standards of Marginal Occupational Communities (Second Phase)" is currently being implemented to further strengthen the economic condition of disadvantaged groups. Another project in Joypurhat district is also contributing to women's economic empowerment, he added.

Replying to another question regarding old-age allowances, Zahid Hossain said the programme is being implemented in accordance with the Old Age Allowance Implementation Policy 2013 to ensure social security for poor elderly citizens with limited earning capacity. He noted that both the monthly allowance rate and the number of beneficiaries are enhanced periodically through decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Social Security Programmes, and efforts will be made to gradually increase them in coming fiscal years.

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