Development Stories: Part 1 (Social Safety Net and Digital Bangladesh)

In the 9th national election, people of Bangladesh voted for democracy against political violence practiced by the 4-party alliance. It was also a message to those who want to impose military rule over the peaceful people of Bangladesh they will throw the imposters away.

With a land-slide victory, Grand alliance led by Bangladesh Awami league, got the responsibility to develop this country. Disregard to oppositions continuous attack on civilians and destruction of public properties, mass people worked shoulder to shoulder with the government. This is a little effort to outspread the news and information of development to everyone. Today we are focusing on two sectors: Social Safety and Digital Bangladesh

Social Safety:
• Father of the nation, Bangabandhu Shekh Mujibur Rahman took the very first effort to eradicate the sufferings of mass people by starting Social Safety Network Program. He was the first who initiated distribution of ration, relief and selling consumer goods in open market program.
• Budget increased every year for social safety network. In fiscal year 2009-10, the expenditure was 16,706 Crore taka which is increased to 22,750 Crore taka in 2013-14.
• Under social safety program, several projects like elderly allowance, widow allowance, vulnerable allowance, allowance for handicapped and helpless, selling consumer products with subsidy price, VGD, VGF, test relief, work for food etc were implemented
• Elderly allowance beneficiaries were increased from 2 million to 2.47 million. Widow and divorced allowance beneficiaries increased to 920000. Poor handicapped allowance beneficiaries increased to 286000.
• Allowance is given to poor and pregnant mothers, working lactating mothers and poor women who are involved in agricultural production.
• Ashrayan-2 project has been initiated to rehabilitate 50 thousand landless, homeless people and to develop Aila and Sidr affected areas.
• Initiated an Autism Resource center and a free school for Autistic children.
• For handicapped applicants, including Bangladesh Cadre Service, 1% quota is saved in first and second class jobs and 10% quota for parentless and handicapped applicants in third and fourth class jobs.
• Under ‘One house, One firm’ project 10.4 Lakh people from 1,923 unions have become self-sufficient farmers by preserving 17,300 villages.

Digital Bangladesh
• To enjoy the blessings of globalization, comprehensive development were achieved in ICT sector. Expected to become digitalized far ahead of 2021.
• Union Information and Service Centers are introduced to 4,516 unions. People can have 220 services including various government form, notice, passport and visa related information, agriculture, education, health and other service related information, job information, nationality certificate, results of public examinations, employment in abroad etc. 
• Opportunity to receive services including mobile banking, life insurance, soil test and recommendation for fertilizer, paying electricity bills etc.
• Computer laboratories have been installed in more than 4000 schools.
• Mobile health care system has been introduced in district and upazilla hospitals. Tele-medicine system has been introduced.
• Number of cellphone users has reached 100 million. 3G technology introduced. 
• Internet users increased to 30.5 million.
• Digital telephone has been given to 178 upazillas of 58 districts and 42 growth centers.
• Digital Exchange has been installed in 20 upazillas of 3 hill tract districts. 
• Bangabandhu Fellowship, ICT Fellowship and grants have been offered for conducting research in various sectors of science and technology.