Planning Commission objects to social services promo project
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
August 10, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022
Planning Commission objects to social services promo project

Infrastructure

Jahidul Islam
03 September, 2020, 10:55 pm
Last modified: 03 September, 2020, 11:04 pm

Related News

  • Padma Bridge is an engineering marvel of this century: Experts, engineers
  • China's largest policy bank disbursed $27 bln loans for infrastructure stimulus
  • Finance Division gets first female secretary
  • ‘Investment difficult without easing up the legal infrastructure’
  • 43 police officials promoted to Additional DIGs 

Planning Commission objects to social services promo project

Planning Commission says social services department promotional campaign project irrational as multiple similar projects are currently ongoing

Jahidul Islam
03 September, 2020, 10:55 pm
Last modified: 03 September, 2020, 11:04 pm
Photo: Collected
Photo: Collected

Promotion is expansion, says a Bangla proverb.

Filled and fueled by the mantra, the Ministry of Social Welfare recently sent a Tk12 crore project to the Planning Commission to run a wide publicity campaign about its activities.

Under the project, audio, video and cinema contents will be made and commercials will be circulated in print and electronic media to let people know about the social services they can avail.

However, the commission sent the proposal back to the ministry saying there are a number of publicity projects currently going on.

The project proposal said the Department of Social Services is implementing most of the social safety net projects to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to become a middle-income country.

But due to lack of publicity for these activities, people are often deprived of the desired services, said the proposal, adding, "The project is being taken up to make all the activities of the department available to the public."

However, the Planning Commission observed that there is no rationality for taking such new projects now.

According to the commission, the Ministry of Information is carrying out two similar projects at Tk59.63 crore and Tk139.62 crore. Therefore, the commission thinks that there is no need to take a new project now for the same purpose.

A meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) was recently held at the Planning Commission on the proposal of the Ministry of Social Welfare. Apart from the rationality, the meeting discussed the proposed project spending.

Planning Ministry officials said the proposal was sent back to the social welfare ministry with some suggestions.

While contacted, Mohammad Zainul Bari, Secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare, told The Business Standard that the Planning Commission might be right about the rationality for the project. The government has multiple projects to highlight development.

"I will personally review the information ministry project. However, it is important to promote the development activities," he added.

Scyswam Wing of the Planning Commission's Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division presented the proposal at the PEC meeting. Joint Chief of the wing Md Mustafizur Rahman said the meeting discussed several issues of the project.

He also said that the proposal has been sent back to make a new one.

Analyzing the proposal, it was found that the project will produce audio, video and movies through an outsourcing firm at a cost of Tk2.11 crore. The advertising to print and electronic media worth Tk2.30 crore will also be conducted on an outsourcing basis.

Apart from these, other activities including training, promotion, software development will be done through outsourcing which will cost Tk5.12 crore.

The commission objected to the Tk20 lakh purchase proposal of digital cameras for the implementation of the project, even though the main work of the project does not involve significant activities of the Department of Social Services or social welfare ministry officials.

Apart from that, four laptops at Tk4.80 lakh, three desktop computers at Tk2.1 lakh, televisions and equipment worth Tk2.54 crore have been proposed for the project director's office.

A review of the proposal shows that the project will cost the maximum of Tk3.17 crore – more than 26 percent of the total project cost – for the use of rented vehicles.

The commission has suggested the social welfare ministry run the campaign through outsourcing without taking up a new project.

According to the PEC meeting minutes, the Department of Social Services has offices at upazila level to disburse allowances to the poor, helpless and destitute people, and people are well aware of the activities. There is no rationality for taking new projects in this regard.

It can be mentioned that the Department of Social Services gives Tk500 per month to the elderly and widows. The Tk12 crore cost for the proposed project for promotional campaigns could bring at least 20,000 more helpless people under the social safety net programmes.

Bangladesh / Top News

infrastructure / Planning Commission / Social Service / Promotion

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • This won’t last forever.Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images via Bloomberg
    Minimum wages are going up. Jobs may disappear
  •  A Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, November 16, 2018. Photo: Reuters/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
    Two Rohingya leaders shot dead in Ukhiya
  • Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City, U.S., August 9, 2022. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado
    Trump uses FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago home to solicit campaign donations

MOST VIEWED

  • The authority can choose certain hours on a given day in a week, when the bridge or parts of it on both ends will be available to interested walkers. PHOTO: MUMIT M
    Padma Bridge toll collection exceeds Tk100 crore mark
  • First consignment of Bangabandhu Rail Bridge machinery reaches Mongla port
    First consignment of Bangabandhu Rail Bridge machinery reaches Mongla port
  • Incumbent govt has improved capability of Chattogram port: Home Minister
    Incumbent govt has improved capability of Chattogram port: Home Minister
  • Photo: Collected
    Eviction drive starts to free Sitakunda hill
  • Housing projects sprouting up by Dhaka-Mawa expressway
    Housing projects sprouting up by Dhaka-Mawa expressway
  • The two swimming pools in Chattogram’s UN Park in Panchlaish residential area await demolition as the authorities have planned building a garden there. The photo was taken recently. Photo: TBS
    Nobody has ever swum in Tk4cr swimming pools

Related News

  • Padma Bridge is an engineering marvel of this century: Experts, engineers
  • China's largest policy bank disbursed $27 bln loans for infrastructure stimulus
  • Finance Division gets first female secretary
  • ‘Investment difficult without easing up the legal infrastructure’
  • 43 police officials promoted to Additional DIGs 

Features

The elevated ground is made out of soil on which grass and trees have grown. This grass-covered elevated ground extends to the perimeter of the establishment. Photo: Maruf Raihan

Aman Mosque: Where form and function complement each other

23h | Habitat
Photo: BSS

Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib . . . woman of moral power

1d | Thoughts
Will Glass Cosmetics be your next skincare holy grail?

Will Glass Cosmetics be your next skincare holy grail?

1d | Brands
Akij Tableware: More than just dishes on a table

Akij Tableware: More than just dishes on a table

2d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Why Donald Trump buried ex-wife Ivana at a golf course

Why Donald Trump buried ex-wife Ivana at a golf course

13h | Videos
In absence of groom, his brother stands by the bride

In absence of groom, his brother stands by the bride

16h | Videos
Tajia procession of Muharram

Tajia procession of Muharram

17h | Videos
Importance of Ashura in Islam

Importance of Ashura in Islam

18h | Videos

Most Read

1
Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 
Banking

Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 

2
Diesel price hiked by Tk34 per litre, Octane by Tk46
Energy

Diesel price hiked by Tk34 per litre, Octane by Tk46

3
Housing projects sprouting up by Dhaka-Mawa expressway
Real Estate

Housing projects sprouting up by Dhaka-Mawa expressway

4
Infographic: TBS
Banking

Dollar rate will be left to market after two months: Governor

5
Photo: Collected
Transport

Will Tokyo’s traffic model solve Dhaka’s gridlocks?

6
Bangladesh to resume talks for Ukrainian wheat import
Economy

Bangladesh to resume talks for Ukrainian wheat import

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net