Distressed women in Bogra’s Dhunat Upazila are not getting maternity allowance due to delay in making final list of beneficiaries due to irresponsibility of Union Parishad chairmen. For this reason, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer has warned the UP chairmen in a letter on Thursday asking for the final list between the two working days.

According to the office of the Upazila Women’s Affairs Officer, 500 women in ten unions of the upazila were to be given allowances from July 2020 under the ‘Maternity Allowance for Poor Mothers’ program of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. A list of 50 women was sought from the chairman of each union council. Everyone will be given 500 rupees per month. For six consecutive months, these women will withdraw money from their account number in the local Sonali Bank. They will get this allowance for three years. According to the rules, only poor and distressed pregnant mothers are eligible for the allowance.

The list was to be finalized from the union level and submitted to the upazila committee by October 2020. But 5 out of 10 unions could not submit the final list even today. Among them are Dhunat Sadar, Chowkibari, Chikashi, Elangi and Mathurapur Unions. UNO has warned the chairmen of these 5 union councils for failing to submit the final list within the stipulated time. They have been asked to submit the final list within two working days.

In this regard, Dhunat Sadar Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Lal Mia said, the responsibility of making a list of the people’s representatives of the Union Parishad as well as a part of the allocation was given to the leaders and workers of the ruling party. But due to non-receipt of the list of party leaders and workers, the submission of the final list is being delayed. However, the final list will be submitted within the stipulated time as per the letter given by UNO Sir.

Dhunat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Chairman of the Upazila Maternity Allowance Committee Sanjay Kumar Mahanta said that despite repeated urgings to the UP chairmen, the final list was not submitted, causing problems in the payment of allowances. However, a letter has been given to the chairmen asking for the final list within two working days. If the list is not received within the stipulated time, the responsibility will have to be borne by the chairmen.