Program for Improving the Living Standard of Bēdē (gypsy) Communities

Gypsy and under-privileged people cover a very small part of population in Bangladesh. According to the survey of the Department of Social Services, there are about 75,000 Gypsies reside in Bangladesh. In Gypsies, 99 percent of the population is Muslim and 90 percent is illiterate. They are divided in eight groups as Malbede, Sapuria, Bazikar, Sander, Tola, Mirshikari, Barial Sanda and Gain. Small business, sale of amulets, snake bite treatment, snake catching, snake hunting, snake sale, spiritual health care, horn planting, medicinal herbal medicine, kabiraji, monkey game, magic show etc. are their main occupations.

Context:

The program was initiated in 7 districts through a pilot program in the financial year 2012-13. The seven pilot districts are Dhaka, Chittagong, Dinajpur, Patuakhali, Naogaon, Jessore, Bogra and Habiganj. The total allocation was 66,00,000 tk. in the financial year 2012-13. The program was implemented in 21 districts with new 14 districts in the financial year 2013-14 and the districts are Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gopalganj, Faridpur, Sherpur, Tangail, Chittagong, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Pabna, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Jessore, Kushtia, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali and Habiganj. During the financial year, 2014-15 the allocation was tk. 7, 96, 98,000 (Seven crore ninety six lakh ninety eight thousand). This program is being implemented in prior 21 districts in the last fiscal year.  The amount allocated in the financial year 2014-15 is taka. 9, 22, 94,000.  In 2015-16, 180 Million Taka is allocated in 64 districts.

Working Area:

The whole Bangladesh that means all the city corporations, all the Upazilas, police stations of the 64 districts of the country, all classes of municipalities and the rural areas of the Union Parisad and backward populations are proportionately.

Implementing Office:

Following the policy with the help of local government and the public representatives, the Department of Social Services make a list of the Gypsy students who are above five years old for stipend, allowances for the disabled and insolvent persons who are 50 years old or more. By following the PPA-2006 and PPR-2008 Concerned office will arrange training for the target community by selecting NGOs.

Starting Year of the program:

2012-2013 fiscal Year.

Aims and Objectives:

• Provide stipends at 4 levels (at the rate of monthly primary 700, secondary 800, high school 1000 and higher 1200 per month) with the aim of educating the gypsy and backward students;
• developing their skills through vocational training to bring them into the mainstream of society by engaging in income-generating activities;
• Ensuring social security and Socio-economic development
• Increasing their status in family and society.
• Strengthening their morale by providing financial assistance to disabled and incapacitated persons aged 50 years or above.

Educational institutions in which Gypsy students will be eligible to receive the scholarship:

• Educational institutions under the control of the Ministry of Social Welfare;
• Government, Registered non-government and Government Enrolled Private Primary Schools.
• Government and private non-government secondary schools.
• All Madrasas recognized by the government.
• Government and government affiliated medical colleges.
• Public and government affiliated universities.
• Government approved technical education institutes.

Eligibility and conditions for obtaining a stipend:

• The candidate must be a citizen of Bangladesh by birth.
• The candidate must be 5 years of age or more.
• At least 50% of the classes should be attended at the month.
• Passing annual tests and participating in regular exams.
• The annual income of the student's guardian should be Tk. 60,000.
• Poor, landless and homeless Gypsy and Backward students will get priority.
• The students of various educational institutes controlled by the Ministry of Social Welfare and the students of educational institutions run by a government-recognized voluntary organization will get priority.

Ineligibility to receive a stipend:

• Unless the student is studying in a recognized Government educational institution.
• When employed in a public / private institution.
• Get any other allowance or government benefit.

Reasons that can cancel stipend:

• Absent in class for 3 (three) months without any logical reason.
• Do not participate in the exam without a valid reason.
• After receiving stipend, if he leaves that educational institution and enters another educational institution, his or her stipend will be canceled at that institution, but his name may be included in the newly admitted institution.
• Died or unwilling to accept stipend.

Eligibility and conditions for receiving disability allowance for non-disabled and non-disabled persons aged 5 years and above:

• The candidate must be a citizen of Bangladesh and be a resident of the area concerned.
• Must have birth registration / national ID card.
• Registration and identity card should be obtained from the Upazila and District Social Services Office. The Candidate of the concerned district must obtain the registration and identity card from that district.
• The highest priority should be given to the person who is physically disabled and cannot work.
• Annual average income of the candidate should be tk. not more than 36,000 Taka.
• Priority should be given to the destitute, the refugees and the landless.
• Older, widow, divorced, widower, childless, separated family members should be given priority on a gradual basis.
• Priority should be given to landless persons. In this case, if a person's land is less than 1.5 acres or less, he will be treated as landless.
• Be selected by the selection committee.

Ineligibility to receive allowance:

• If the candidate is a civil servant or pensioner.

• If he is a VGD card holder.

• Receive regular government grants / allowances in any other way;

• Regularly receive financial grants / allowances from a non-governmental organization / social welfare organization.

Reasons for that allowances can be canceled:

• If the beneficiary leave the concerned area of residence and live other place permanently or do not return within 1 (one) year from the date of departure.
• Any other regular / allowance received by the Government.
• In case of reluctance to accept allowance after enrollment for the beneficiary.
• If there is any proof that he has taken allowance from more than one area.

Service Centre:

All Upazilas Social Services offices and UCD offices.

Upazila wise statistics:

Sr. No.

Number of beneficiary students till 2020-21 financial year

Sherpur Sadar Upazila

Nakla Upazila

Nalitabari Upazila

Jhenaigati Upazila

Sreebordi Upazila

Sherpur Municipality