Desk Report
Publish: 16 Sep 2021, 04:55 pm
The World Bank Logo || Photo: Collected
The World Bank reports that one
in five poor people in Bangladesh’s urban areas, many of whom are outside the
government's social security program.
Rural areas have been given more
importance in social security programs. Although one in five urban areas is
poor and half of the urban dwellers are at risk of poverty.
This was stated in a press
release from the Dhaka office of the World Bank on Thursday (September 16). The
report titled 'Bangladesh Social Protection Public Expenditure Review'
highlights various aspects of Bangladesh's continued investment in social
security and various social security programs.
It also outlines how to improve
existing structures, including project planning, design, programming and
delivery.
As mentioned in the report, there
is a need to balance social security programs between rural and urban areas. In
urban areas, about 11 percent of people have access to social security,
although 19 percent are poor. In rural areas, on the other hand, 28 percent of
the population is poor, although 37 percent are covered by social security
programs.
The report states that more
emphasis on social security programs can alleviate poverty in Bangladesh at a
significant rate.
It said social security programs
are at the heart of Bangladesh's sustainable development strategy. Through this
the poor people are benefiting. With more emphasis on social security programs,
Bangladesh will be able to alleviate poverty at a significant rate.
Dandan Chen, the World Bank's
operations manager for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said Bangladesh has greatly
expanded the scope of its social security programs over the past few decades.
At present 3 out of every 10 houses in the country are under this perimeter.
The ongoing global corona epidemic has necessitated more vigorous action.
He added that the Coronavirus
pandemic has underscored the need for stronger, more efficient and adaptable
social security systems. Moving forward, well-targeted and less fragmented
social security programs that will help the country move forward with the
success of poverty reduction in the face of demographic change, unplanned
urbanization, labor market vulnerabilities and frequent shocks.
According to the report, in
fiscal year 2020, Bangladesh spent about 2.6 percent of GDP on social security.
Which is consistent with countries with similar income levels. One out of every
eight poor people in the country is a small child. Yet poor young children
receive only 1.6 percent of social security spending. Expenditures will be more
effective if the allocations are linked to the share of the poor in different
sections and to the various programs run through the programs.
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Topic : World Bank Bangladesh
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