Although the Hijra population is a part of the total population of Bangladesh, it has been known as a neglected and backward group. Hijra refers to those people who are not considered as male and female for physical or genetic reasons. According to medical science, this type of sexually disabled person is usually born due to chromosomal defects. They are discriminated against in the society. To ensure the family, socio-economic, educational system, housing, health development and social security of these people, the government has adopted the life-long development program of the Hijra community to bring them to the mainstream of the society and to engage them in the overall development of the country. According to the Department of Social Services, the number of Hijra in Bangladesh is around 11,000.
Working Area: The whole Bangladesh that means all the city corporations, all the Upazilas, police stations of the 64 districts of the country, all classes of municipalities and the rural areas of the Union Parisad and backward |Hijra populations are proportionately.
Implementing Office:
Department of Social Services. This implementation process will be implemented through the existing manpower, staff and employees of the district and upazila administration and selected NGOs.
Aims and Objectives:
- Providing stipends at 4 levels (at the rate of monthly primary 700, secondary 800, high school 1000 and higher 1200 per month) with the aim of educating the Hijra students.
- Strengthen their morale by providing special allowance (tk. 600 per month) to disabled and insolvent Hijra aged 50 years or above.
- developing their skills through vocational training to bring them into the mainstream of society by engaging in income-generating activities;
- Providing post-training financial support (Tk. 10,000).
- Socio-economic development and social protection for the Hijra population.
- Enhance their status in the family and society.
Educational institutions in which Hijra students will be eligible to receive the stipends:
- Educational institutions under the control of the Ministry of Social Welfare;
- Government, Registered non-government and Government Enrolled Private Primary Schools.
- Government and private non-government secondary schools.
- All Madrasas recognized by the government.
- Government and government affiliated medical colleges.
- Public and government affiliated universities.
- Government approved technical education institutions.
Eligibility and conditions for obtaining a scholarship:
- The candidate must be a citizen of Bangladeshi by birth. The identity card should be obtained from the District Social Service Office as a permanent resident of the area.
- The candidate must be 5 years or more.
- At least 50% of the class should be attended.
- Passing annual tests and participating in regular exams.
- The annual income of the student's guardian should not be more than 60,000 tk.
- Poor, landless and homeless students will get priority.
- Students of various educational institutes controlled by the Ministry of Social Welfare and students of educational institutes run by government-recognized voluntary organizations will receive priority.
Ineligibility to receive a scholarship:
- Unless the student is studying in a recognized Government educational institution.
- When employed in a public / private institution.
- Get any other allowance or government benefit.
Reasons that can cancel stipend:
- Absent in class for 3 (three) months without any logical reason.
- Do not participate in the exam without a valid reason.
- After receiving stipend, if he leaves that educational institution and enters another educational institution, his or her stipend will be canceled at that institution, but his name may be included in the newly admitted institution.
- Died or unwilling to accept stipend.
Eligibility and conditions for receiving special allowance for disabled Hijras:
- The candidate must be a citizen of Bangladesh and be a resident of the area concerned.
- Must have birth registration / national ID card.
- Registration and identity card should be obtained from the Upazila and District Social Services Office. The Candidate of the concerned district must obtain the registration and identity card from that district
- The highest priority should be given to the person who is physically disabled and cannot work.
- Annual average income of the candidate should be tk. not more than 36,000.
- Priority should be given to the destitute, the refugees and the landless.
- Special allowance or old allowance should be provided to the disabled Hijra age 50 years or more. In order to receive the allowance, all the government rules should be followed regarding age
- Priority should be given to landless persons. In this case, if a person's land is less than .5 acres or less, he will be treated as landless.
- Be selected by the selection committee.
Ineligibility to receive allowance:
- If the candidate is a civil servant or pensioner.
- If he is a VGD card holder.
- Receive regular government grants / allowances in any other way;
- Regularly receive financial grants / allowances from a non-governmental organization / social welfare organization
Reasons for that allowances can be canceled:
- If the beneficiary leave the concerned area of residence and live other place permanently or do not return within 1 (one) year from the date of departure.
- Any other regular / allowance received by the Government.
- In case of reluctance to accept allowance after enrollment for the beneficiary.
- If there is any proof that he has taken allowance from more than one area.
Service Centre:
All Upazilas Social Services Offices and UCD Offices.
Planning and Implementation: Cabinet Division, A2I, BCC, DoICT and BASIS
Technical Assistance:
