Cabinet committee formed to implement 'Family Card'

The government has taken the initiative to launch 'Family Card' to strengthen the financial security of marginal and low-income families. A 15-member cabinet committee has been formed for this purpose.

The Cabinet Division gave this information in a notification issued on Thursday. It said that a 'Cabinet Committee on Family Card Provision' has been formed with a total of 15 members, including 2 ministers and 2 state ministers.

In the initial stage, the target of piloting 'Family Card' in 8 upazilas of 8 divisions of the country has been set. However, in which upazilas it will be launched, it has not been finalized yet.

The government said that in the first phase, marginal and low-income families will come under the ambit of this card. This initiative has been taken to make the social security program more integrated and target-based.

The committee, chaired by the Finance Minister, includes the Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, the Minister of Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Advisers Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir and Mahdi Amin, the Cabinet Secretary and secretaries of seven ministries. The committee has been asked to submit its initial report by February 24. The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs will provide secretarial support to the committee.

The terms of reference of the committee state that it will formulate a suitable design for the 'Family Card' management, finalize the beneficiary selection system, take measures to introduce one in each upazila in each division, and review whether any existing card for women can be used as a basis. In addition, the issue of preparing the necessary digital management information system under the National Identity Card and National Household Database to create a database of beneficiaries will also be taken into consideration.