CPD-UNFPA Programme on Population and Sustainable Development

Paper 17 (Summary)

The Effects of Various Interventions on the Welfare of the Elderly: Evidence from Micro-Study

Dr. M. Kabir and Dr. M.A. Salam

Objectives

One of the core objectives of the study was to put forward policy recommendations for achieving the objectives of the different interventions such as the Boyoshko Bhata Scheme on the welfare of the elderly. The major study objectives were as follows:
· To make an assessment of the scheme in the context of the prevailing socio-economic conditions of Bangladesh
· To review the institutional arrangement of the scheme, namely selection of recipients, delivery modalities and implementation mechanism
· To estimate the financial implications of a possible full coverage of all the eligible elderly population
· To make an assessment of the scheme to identify the shortcomings and to suggest policy options to improve its operation.

Methodology

The study was based on a primary survey of sample respondents and Focus Group Discussions. To strengthen and complement the survey findings, three Focus Group Discussions were organised with the participation of two NGOs which deal with issues related to the welfare of the elderly people - the Resource Integration Centre (RIC) and the Probin Hitoishi Sangha (PHS).

Major Findings

Important findings of the survey are as follows:
· Asked about the importance of the Bhata as an income supplement, about 98% of the respondents commented that it was a significant component of their income basket.
· Asked whether they encounter any difficulties in receiving the Bhata, 82% of the respondents answered that they face no difficulty in receiving their allowance. The rest (18%) informed that they faced some difficulties.
· Asked to cite the type of difficulties faced by them, 80% of those facing difficulty identified procrastination on the part of the authorities in handing over the allowance as the major problem.
· Asked to comment if the scheme required any change, 88% of the respondents thought that the present delivery system could be further improved in order to raise its efficacy.
· Asked to point out the changes which were perceived to be necessary, 80% of respondents opined that the amount of the Bhata should be increased. About 10% of the respondents opined that the Bhata should be increased to Tk 500.
· About 36% of respondents thought that the cash allowance should be supplemented by food and clothing.
· The survey team also made an attempt to find out the expenses incurred, if any, in receiving the Bhata. 26% of the respondents mentioned that they received the Bhata without incurring any expenses. About 74% of the respondents said that they had to incur some expenses to receive their allowance. Asked to point out the type of expenses, 88% reported incurred expenses to receive the Bhata, citing the cost of transportation, and 12% cited the cost incurred in buying revenue stamps.
· The field survey also indicated that in certain instances Bhata recipients had to make extra payments for receiving the Bhata. The study recommends that the GOB should undertake corrective measures to eliminate the related malpractices which result in delays, harassment and inappropriate payments. Local administration and representatives of local government institutions could play an important role in this respect.
· As regards the query as to how the allowance is spent, respondents came up with the following responses (multiple answers were allowed):
• buying food 73%
• buying medicine 37%
• repayment of loan 13%
• purchase of clothing 8%

· Asked whether there was any foregone opportunity involved in accessing the Bhata, 65% of the respondents replied in the affirmative and 35% in the negative. When asked about the benefits that had to be foregone on receiving this Bhata, about 62% of those answering mentioned that they were not eligible to receive relief materials now, and 14% said that their VGD cards have been cancelled after they had come under the purview of the Scheme.
· Asked to make suggestions as regards options which could serve as better alternatives to the Boyoshko Bhata Scheme in terms of addressing the felt-needs of the elderly population, respondents mentioned a wide range of other targeted interventions. These included (a) free provision of basic needs such as food, (b) distribution of clothing, (c) provision of shelter and (d) provision of free medical services for the elderly population in the country.

During the Focus Group Discussion, respondents from the Probin Hitoishi Sangha urged the GOB to explore the possibility of including all eligible elderly people in the country within the ambit of the programme, in a phased manner. They also wanted assurance that this programme will be implemented on a continued and sustained basis. Participants of the focus group discussion with the Resource Integration Centre (RIC) felt that Tk. 100 per month was not sufficient for an elderly person in the context of the actual needs of the elderly population in Bangladesh. The participants thought that the Bhata should be increased to Tk. 300 and it should be distributed on a regular basis, and on time.
The study came up with the observation that the Boyoshko Bhata Scheme has been widely acclaimed and welcomed as an important measure in support of the interests of the increasing number of elderly people of Bangladesh. The GOB could actively consider taking up a number of steps to raise the effectiveness of the programme and also to bring a larger segment of the eligible elderly population within the ambit of the welfare schemes.

To obtain the full text of this report please contact:

Centre for Policy Dialogue
Dialogue and Communication Division
House No 40/C, Road No 11, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
GPO Box 2129, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Tel: (+880 2) 8124770,9141734,9141703; Fax: (+880 2) 8130951
E-mail: cpd@bdonline.com

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Pages: 41