Awami League came to power to serve people: PM Sheikh Hasina

"We have come to the government for serving the people and society, not stealing or embezzling the money of the orphans....we have come to give something to the orphans as we have become orphans by losing our parents and nobody except me and Sheikh Rehana feel so much pain of becoming orphans," she said.

Expressing hope that there will not be any orphan in the country in future, Sheikh Hasina also said the Awami League government has taken the responsibility of all orphans. "I myself and our government have taken their responsibility and our aim is to improve the living standard of every person," she added.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the National Social Services Day and Social Services Week 2016 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here on Saturday morning.

The Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare arranged the function. State Minister for Social Welfare Advocate Promod Mankin chaired the function, while chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry Dr Md Mozammel Hossain was present as the special guest.

Secretary of the ministry Tariq-ul-Islam delivered the welcome address, while Director General of the Department of Social Services Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir gave the vote of thanks.

The Prime Minister also directed the Social Welfare Ministry and the Department of Social Services to take necessary measures for stopping begging.

"I have seen that begging has become a profession of some people. They have some "sardars" (leaders) and they share the money they earn from begging. Whatever we rehabilitate them they step into the old profession again," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the government would make necessary arrangements for their livelihood and build houses for them free of cost. "But they won't be allowed to do such nasty work-it is reality," she asserted.

The Premier also asked the Social Welfare Ministry and the Department of the Social Services to take necessary initiatives for rehabilitation of the people who live and sleep in footpaths and rail stations.

"We will inquire about them to ascertain who comes from what villages. If they don't have any house, we would construct houses for them and if needed, we would provide food free of cost for the first six months," she said.

"They are also human beings and they have rights to lead a better life...why they will live or sleep in footpaths or rail stations?," she posed a question, adding that the state will perform all responsibilities in this regard.

Sheikh Hasina said her government during different tenures implemented various programmes for the welfare of the insolvent, poor, disabled and less privileged people.

The programmes, she said, include increasing allowances for the disabled people to Taka 360 crore, rehabilitation of one lakh families through Ashrayan Project, distribution of 55 lakh acres of land among 1.20 lakh landless people, implementation of two projects for "hijra" (transgender), "dalit and "bede" communities.

The Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of building a happy and prosperous Sonar Bangla by bringing smiles on the faces the poor and distressed people.

To achieve the goal, she said, Bangabandhu started work for building the war-ravaged country and gave highest importance to the social safety net programme to establish a hunger and poverty-free Bangladesh.

The Premier said the Father of the Nation first introduced the Poverty Alleviation Programme in 1974 in implementing the constitutional commitment. The progamme later has been expanded as the Rural Social Service (RSS) Programme across the country under the Department of the Social Services, she added.

In the continuation of the RSS Programme, she said, Bangabandhu launched various subject-based pilot schemes in 1975 and put emphasis on ensuring economic emancipation side by side with the political freedom of the people.

Sheikh Hasina said she believes that that philosophy and activities of Bangabandhu still remains a pioneer for the nation as his programmes are helping to continue the trend of glorious success of the present government, she said.

The Prime Minister said her government in its election manifesto envisaged the Vision 2021 and introduced elderly allowances, widow allowances, distressed women allowances, the allowances for insolvent people with disabilities and disabled students and these are being provided through the Ministry of Social Welfare to infuse dynamism into the rural economy and ensure sustainable social security.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has enacted various laws to ensure rights and welfare for the neglected poor community of the society and has already approved the National Social Security Strategy Paper.

Spelling out her government tremendous successes in different sectors, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is no more a hunger and poverty-stricken country now.

"We have brought down poverty rate to 22.4 percent from 45 percent and reduced the income disparity of the people," she said, adding Bangladesh is moving ahead and will further advance.

Pointing out that the government has been working with a specific plan to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country, the Premier said those who once neglected Bangladesh now see the country in the eyes of honour.

She said Bangladesh achieved independence through the Liberation War under the leadership of Bangabandhu. "We are a victorious nation and we want to move keeping our head high. To achieve the goal, we have to change the lot of the people of all strata," she said.

The Premier said Bangladesh is a now a "role model" in the world and has been upgraded to lower middle income country from the lower income country. We would build Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 and developed a prosperous one by 2041, she said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister handed over Brail books to two visually challenged students and prizes among seven meritorious students who came out successful in SSC examinations from Government Shishu Paribar by achieving golden GPA.

She also enjoyed a cultural function arranged on the occasion.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol