Old Age Allowance Program in Bangladesh: Policy Issues and Implementation Challenges

Abstract

The Government of Bangladesh has introduced wide range of Social Safety Net Programs (SSNP) to reduce poverty and improve the situation of vulnerable populations, like elderly people, disabled population, destitute women, widows and etc. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand the achievements of the goals of the Old Age Allowance Program, however, very few studies have been found that tried to view the implementation process of the program involving beneficiaries and implementers’ perceptions. In this context this research examines various policy implementation challenges of the Old Age Allowance Program (OAAP) in Bangladesh. This research contends that challenges of policy implementation cannot be fully understood without examining the various aspects that shape the process of policy implementation. Indeed, the implementation process does not operate in a vacuum, but is influenced by prevailing social, political, cultural and other contextual factors. The methodology of this research was mixed methods approach and two groups of people were interviewed beneficiaries and the implementer to draw their perceptions, insights and experiences of implementers of OAAP. This study draws range of empirical and theoretical approaches to produce a comprehensive assessment of the policy implementation model in Bangladesh and perspectives of people’s engagement in the process. The research findings demonstrate a distinct relationship between all the variables that have been used in the analytical framework. The research findings also indicate that policy implementation in developing countries like Bangladesh continue to be focused and dependent on structural, political and bureaucratic commitment of the implementers. Furthermore, the research highlights the difficulties faced by the implementers of the program and gauges the level of satisfaction of beneficiaries with how things are done. Mainstream policy research may consider these research findings to theorize policy implementation in developing countries.