An Analysis of the Impact of Old Age Allowance Program: A Study on the Rural Aged People in Chapai Nawabganj District in Bangladesh

Abstract

The study aims to examine the impact of the old age allowance (OAA) program among the rural-aged people who are its beneficiaries. In Bangladesh, aged people are more vulnerable in rural areas than in cities. Lack of proper financial support makes some aged people feel insecure in their daily lives. Bangladesh’s government launched the old age allowance program in the 1997-1998 fiscal year under the social safety net program. This study uses a quantitative approach, and a questionnaire survey is conducted for data collection. This study tries to determine the present situation of aged people after receiving the OAA. This allowance contributed a lot to the economic as well as social status. OAA contributes to the food intake pattern and improves the aged people’s position in the family. After getting the allowance, the majority of the respondents are not considered a burden in their families; their position also changed among family members. After getting allowance majority aged people indicate their satisfaction. By getting OAA majority aged people can easily buy their medicine and clothes as well as do treatment rather depending on others. However, with this OAA program, some problems are faced by the aged persons, including the withdrawal of allowance and some of the beneficiaries are not satisfied with the amount of OAA. So, this study will help the policymakers and policy implementers concerned with social safety net programs, especially those related to old age allowance programs, to make more effective activities for the rural aged in Bangladesh.