Tk 5,000 allowance for elder Harijan community sought

The Harijan community at a post-rally discussion today requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to launch Taka 5,000 monthly allowance for elder, divorcee and disabled Harijan citizens.

They sought sub-stipends for meritorious Harijan students to enable them continuing education to become worthy citizens on the way to build a developed Bangladesh leaving none behind.

Rangpur unit of 'Harijan Adhikar Aday Sangathan (HAAS)' brought out the rally from Press Club premises and gathered in the discussion in city's Katchari Bazar area. With President of HAAS Suresh Basfor in the chair, it's General Secretary Shaju Basfor moderated the discussion addressed by its members Shakil Basfor, Sujan Basfor, Undha Basfor, Suman Basfor and Sarat Basfor.

The speakers said Harijan people are the most backward population of the country.

Sarat Basfor said people of the community are involved with conducting most unhealthy, dirty and risky works like cleaning of roads, offices, dirt, rubbishes, rotten goods, drains and latrines to keep the city clean.

Shaju Basfor said, "The Harijan people work in this way throughout their life and lose physical energy and strength at older ages to earn livelihoods or meeting expenses for medical treatments."

"Many Harijan people die at an early age because of working in unhealthy and risky environments leaving their widows and children in miseries," Shaju added.

Suresh Basfor said the state should take steps under the massive social safety net programmes of the government to assist elderly Harijan citizens so that they could passing their last days of life with minimum facilities.

He requested the government to launch minimum Taka 5,000 as monthly allowance for elderly, widows and disabled Harijan people during their last life span.