An Analysis of the Impact of Social Safety Net Programmes in Bangladesh: The Case Study of the Kurigram District

Abstract

Bangladesh has been implementing social safety net programmes (SSNP) to promote the vulnerable groups of people. OAA (Old Age Allowance) and AWDD (Allowances for the Widows, Deserted & Destitute) are two unconditional cash transfer programmes under the SSNP for vulnerable aged people and women respectively. The impact of these programmes was examined in two sub-districts of the poorest district Kurigram following qualitative method. In-depth interviews were conducted among twenty recipients for searching the implication of allowance on their livelihood. The findings reflect that allowance has contribution to necessary food consumption and coping up with strategies during natural shock. It provides a minimum support for survival but not enough for generate income and assets building. Therefore, allowances are not support for escape poverty trap. In addition AWDD has more contribution compare to OAA for increasing frequency of taking meal, human resource development, change of occupation, house reconstruction and initiative for seeking job. Even though, allowance is not enough to gear up assets building and productive investment, but OAA respondents are a bit advance for these two issues rather than AWDD. Roumari Upazila is better off and Rajibpur Upazila is the poorest sub-district taken into consideration. Comparatively more respondents in Roumari Upazila can read and write, have property and have tendency of temporal migration for work. However, a good number of respondents of Rajibpur Upazila have received additional in-kind unconditional facilities from local government. Paradoxically, the socio-economic condition of Rajibpur Upazila (sub-district) is worse than that of Roumari Upazila (sub-district). To find out the reasons of difference of poverty level of two sub-districts needs further study.