DHAKA, June 5: The government has allocated Taka 891 crore for 24.75 lakh old people including divorcees, widows, disabled and extreme poor under the Social Safety Net (SSN) programme across the country during the financial year 2011-2012.

"The government allocated Taka 300 for each person per month," Secretary of Social Welfare Ministry Ranjit Kumar Biswas told BSS. He said the ministry has released the fourth (April- June) installment of the allocated money for distribution among them.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina introduced the safety net programmes specially for the old poor people and her government would continue to provide old age allowance, the secretary said.

Ranjit said the government has increased the number of beneficiaries to 24.75 lakh from 22.50 lakh in 2010-2011 fiscal
year, while the number of beneficiaries were 22.50 lakh in 2009- 2010 and the government allocated Taka 810 crore in the budget.