RANGPUR, July 4, (V7N) — Social Welfare Minister Dr Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain has said that no one will be forgiven for dishonesty as the present government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption.
“It is being ensured that no one in the ministry is involved in corruption. Because at the end of the day, public representatives and the government have to be accountable to the people and to the parliament,” he said.
He was speaking to journalists after a meeting with officials of the Department of Social Services at the District Social Services Office auditorium in the city today.
The Social Welfare Minister said that every family will get a family card.
“After completing necessary formalities and collecting information, within the next 10 to 12 weeks, the family card distribution programme will be launched in every upazila across the country, including Rangpur city,” he said.
There is no longer any cash payment system in service programmes under the Ministry of Social Welfare.
“Money is going directly to the beneficiary's bank account. Beneficiaries are also receiving the family card money directly through the bank. The beneficiaries are relieved as there is no middleman,” he said.
On disability support, the minister said that according to international estimates, six percent of Bangladesh’s total population is disabled. There are about 45 lakh registered disabled people in the country.
He said, “Work is being done to support those disabled people and turn them into public assets. Forty-five mobile therapy units are working in the areas for the disabled across the country. Its activities will be increased in the future.”
The Social Welfare Minister said there are a total of 2,600 schools for the disabled in the country. Of these, 85 are registered and 75 are MPO-listed.
“We are working to establish one standard disabled school in every district of the country soon and at least one disabled school in each upazila,” he said.
Regarding social security, he said the Ministry of Social Welfare is working to alleviate poverty.
The ministry provides training in sewing, computer skills, poultry farming, plumbing, and mobile repair. After training, equipment for employment is distributed free of charge. The ministry is also providing interest-free loans to trained individuals to create entrepreneurs.
“The Deprtment of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Women’s Organization and the Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation are working to bring every person into the mainstream of society,” he said.
Women Member of Parliament from reserved seat Rezeka Sultana Fensi, Rangpur Development Authority Chairman Shamsuzzaman Samu, Administrator of Rangpur City Corporation Advocate Mahfuz Un Nabi Don, District Council Administrator Md Saiful Islam, Director General of the Department of Social Services Shah Mohammad Mahbub, District BNP member Liton Parvez and former President of District BNP Emdadul Haque Bhorsa were present at that time.
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