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S R Joy, Savar
The bede population is a small part of the total population of Bangladesh. According to a survey by the Department of Social Services, the bede population in Bangladesh is about 75,000.
The present government has undertaken various programmes to improve the living standards of the bede and backward people and to integrate them into the mainstream of society. From FY 2012-13 to FY 2018-19, two programmes for the development of bede community were together. In the FY 2019-20, the two programmes were separated and one is being conducted with the title “Livelihood Development Programme of Bede People”.
From the FY 2012-13, seven districts of the country have been included in the pilot programme. The allocation for the financial year 2012-13 was Tk 66 lakh. From the FY 2013-14, this programme was implemented in 21 districts including 14 new districts and the districts are Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gopalganj, Faridpur, Sherpur, Tangail, Chattogram, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Pabna, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Kushtia, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and Habiganj.
In the last financial year, the allocation for this programme was Tk 7,96,98,000. This programme has been implemented in the previous 21 districts in the FY 2014-15. The amount allocated in the FY 2014-15 was Tk 9,22,94,000. In the 2015-16 FY, the programme is being implemented in all 64 districts by expanding it to 43 new districts including the previous 21 districts.
The amount allocated in the FY 2015-16 was Tk 18 crore. The amount allocated in the FY 2016-17 was Tk 20.30 crore. The amount allocated in the FY 2016-17 was Tk 27 crore. The amount allocated in the 2018-19 FY was Tk 50.03 crore. The allocation in the 2019-20 FY was Tk 9.23 crore. The same amount was allocated in the 2021-2022 FY.
Activities implemented in the programme are: In order to educate and develop bede students, stipends are being provided at four levels, and the monthly amount of the money is Tk 700 in primary level, Tk 800 in secondary level, Tk 1,000 in higher secondary level and Tk 1,200 in higher level; provision of special old age allowance at the rate of Tk 500; increasing the skills of the working bede people through vocational training and bringing them into the mainstream of society by involving them in income generating activities; and providing post-training financial assistance at the rate of Tk 10,000.