Family Card data collection stage begins

The government on Monday officially announced the start of the data collection stage for the full implementation of the Family Card project.

Data from an estimated 4.45 crore families will be collected by year-end, said Social Welfare Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain at a press conference held at the Information Secretariat in the capital.

The main project is being launched following the pilot scheme which began on 10 March and ran through June, the minister said.

The government estimates the number of eligible beneficiaries would be anywhere between 1.60 crore and 2.10 crore, the minister added.

Only the families categorised as extremely poor, poor and low-income would get the desired financial benefits through the cards, he added.

The government wishes to deliver the cards to all the eligible beneficiaries within the next four years.

The Proxy Means Test (PMT) will be used to scientifically determine the income category of households, and no religious or political grounds will be considered, he added.