BSS, Dhaka :
Speakers at a conference observed that as Bangladesh moves forward towards becoming a middle-income country, ensuring social protection of every citizen is crucial for inclusive and sustainable progress.
They came up with the observation while speaking at the inaugural session of a Bangladesh Social Security Conference and Knowledge Fair-2019 at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre in the city. The Cabinet Division and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organised the conference and fair, a UNDP press release said. The conference engaged social protection implementing ministries, practitioners, academics, NGO and private sector organisations and focused on disseminating and discussing the findings of a number of researches on different burning issues of social protection and reviewing the implementation status of National Social Security Strategy (NSSS). Highlighting the key areas of focus for social security, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said, as the chief guest, that social protection increases participation of poor and marginalised people in income-generating activities.
“It contributes to reducing inequalities and is essential for supporting vulnerable communities. Combined effort is needed to create income generating opportunities,” she said. “Addressing the obstacles to income generation is significant to break the cycle of poverty, otherwise the poverty crisis will continue.” The speaker emphasised that social protection is not a cost but an investment and pointed out, “It helps to build social capital and empowers women. We must develop the capacity of poor and marginalised people. A long-term strategy is required to make a sustainable impact and include everyone in the development of Bangladesh.”
Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed said in his speech as special guest, “The coming decade will be a time of huge importance for Bangladesh’s socio-economic development. Improved social security may drive the achievement of middle income country status in 2021. A series of strains on the social fabric are likely to emerge as Bangladesh moves towards middle income country status.” “Social protection offers a means of supporting high economic growth with equity by boosting productivity. It reduces the tendency of risk aversion fostering economic participation,” he said.
Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, outlined four major priorities – implementing reforms for persons with disabilities, improving the system for the urban poor, making concrete progress on flagship programmes and implementing NSSS gender policy strategy to make the system more gender-responsive.
He said, “UNDP Bangladesh is pleased to have supported the government in undertaking research in some of these areas. This conference will launch key publications that can provide critical insights as well as expert recommendations on what needs to be done. We hope these will be useful in informing Bangladesh’s eighth Five-Year Plan which will be drafted soon.”
Speakers at a conference observed that as Bangladesh moves forward towards becoming a middle-income country, ensuring social protection of every citizen is crucial for inclusive and sustainable progress.
They came up with the observation while speaking at the inaugural session of a Bangladesh Social Security Conference and Knowledge Fair-2019 at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre in the city. The Cabinet Division and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organised the conference and fair, a UNDP press release said. The conference engaged social protection implementing ministries, practitioners, academics, NGO and private sector organisations and focused on disseminating and discussing the findings of a number of researches on different burning issues of social protection and reviewing the implementation status of National Social Security Strategy (NSSS). Highlighting the key areas of focus for social security, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said, as the chief guest, that social protection increases participation of poor and marginalised people in income-generating activities.
“It contributes to reducing inequalities and is essential for supporting vulnerable communities. Combined effort is needed to create income generating opportunities,” she said. “Addressing the obstacles to income generation is significant to break the cycle of poverty, otherwise the poverty crisis will continue.” The speaker emphasised that social protection is not a cost but an investment and pointed out, “It helps to build social capital and empowers women. We must develop the capacity of poor and marginalised people. A long-term strategy is required to make a sustainable impact and include everyone in the development of Bangladesh.”
Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed said in his speech as special guest, “The coming decade will be a time of huge importance for Bangladesh’s socio-economic development. Improved social security may drive the achievement of middle income country status in 2021. A series of strains on the social fabric are likely to emerge as Bangladesh moves towards middle income country status.” “Social protection offers a means of supporting high economic growth with equity by boosting productivity. It reduces the tendency of risk aversion fostering economic participation,” he said.
Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, outlined four major priorities – implementing reforms for persons with disabilities, improving the system for the urban poor, making concrete progress on flagship programmes and implementing NSSS gender policy strategy to make the system more gender-responsive.
He said, “UNDP Bangladesh is pleased to have supported the government in undertaking research in some of these areas. This conference will launch key publications that can provide critical insights as well as expert recommendations on what needs to be done. We hope these will be useful in informing Bangladesh’s eighth Five-Year Plan which will be drafted soon.”
