Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
opportunity to innovate and implement SSN programs, such as Food for Edu-
cation and many nutrition intervention programs, which we discuss next.
Increasing Emphasis on SSN Programs
Since the reform process started, Bangladesh has developed a wide range of
SSN programs, which possess a wealth of institutional diversity (Table 5.2).
Although some of the programs started as early as the mid-1970s, the adminis-
trative structure and implementation mechanisms have gone through substan-
tive changes over the years. The notable changes include transforming the re-
lief programs into development programs, converting universal subsidies to
targeted subsidies, and forming partnerships with nongovernmental organiza-
tions (NGOs) when implementing SSN programs. In this section, we describe
these programs under five broad categories.
INFRASTRUCTURE
-
BUILDING PROGRAMS
. Food-for-Work (FFW), a part of
the Rural Development Program, and the Food for Asset (FFA) component of the
Integrated Food Security program, as well as the Test Relief Programs, fall into
the category of infrastructure-building programs. They distribute grain (rice and
wheat) as wage payments to workers in labor-intensive public works programs.
Both men and women participate in Food-for-Work and Test Relief, whereas FFA
requires that at least 70 percent of the participants be women. Only women can
participate in the Rural Maintenance Program; they receive cash wages for main-
taining rural earthen roads. All these programs require the participants to do phys-
ical work that mainly involves moving earth. These programs are typically self-
targeting, because only the poor would be willing to work at onerous, low-paying
manual labor. In addition to willingness to work, FFA and the Rural Maintenance
Program screen administratively to ensure that only the neediest are employed.
TRAINING PROGRAMS
. The Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) pro-
gram exclusively targets poor women who receive a monthly wheat ration over
a period of 24 months. Although it was introduced as a relief program in the
mid-1970s, it has evolved to integrate food security with development objec-
tives. The development package includes training on income-generating activ-
ities, raising awareness on social, legal, health, and nutrition issues, and ac-
quiring basic literacy and numeracy. The Training and Nutrition Centers and
FFA components of the Integrated Food Security program also require the ben-
eficiaries to participate in training similar to that of the VGD program.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
. The Food for Education program distributed
monthly foodgrain rations to poor households if they sent their children to pri-
mary schools. Food for Education was terminated in 2002 and has been re-
placed by the cash-based Primary Education Stipend Program. Another initia-
tive, the School Feeding program, distributes biscuits to primary school children.
These programs have the common development objectives of promoting school
enrollment and attendance and reducing dropout rates. The government also
provides cash assistance to girls in secondary schools through the Female Sec-
ondary School Assistance program.
