Pre-Budget Dialogue on Allocations for Young People in the National Budget 2021-22
ActionAid Bangladesh and Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF) jointly organized a virtual dialogue on the national budget on May 29, 2021, ActionAid Bangladesh and Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF) organized the dialogue with policymakers, CSO's, economists and youth for increasing allocations for youth sectors in the national budget 2021-22. Youth participants in the discussion also demanded special allocations for youth, unemployment allowance and easy loan process for entrepreneurs, special budget for minority communities like- indigenous communities, physically challenged youth, LGBTQI community, etc .
In the dialogue guest and participants demanded and recommended some areas to be considered in the upcoming budget.
Prof. Kazi Maruful Islam said that corruption is one of the biggest barriers in budget implementation, the government should allocate special incentive for the immigrant people who left their job due to the Covid-19 situation and a justifiable and democratic environment for youths is also required.
Prof. M.M. Akash suggested that the government should set priority for allocation of budget. He added that the youth need to be transparent and aware of their rights and corruption needs to be removed from every sector.
Nahim Razzaq, MP, said that the youth should participate in implementation of the budget. He recommended that a youth development studies centre be established for research on youth. He also said that accountability should be ensured in the budget implementation.
Sayeda Rubina Akter, MP, said that in the upcoming budget, the government has prioritized the health and agriculture sectors to tackle the pandemic. She suggested that youths should raise the government for providing them loan without any collateral in this extreme situation.
Tanvir Hasan Sourov said that the government should provide ICT training to the youth and allocate proper budget for the ICT sector.
Abrar Hossain Sayem said in the RMG sector, we need more skilled employees and the government should establish an RMG research centre by focusing on youth engagement with RMG sectors.
Tajdin Hassan said that the youth need to be self-motivated and proactive. Newspapers can play a vital role to in developing youth mentality and life. Government should be focused on youth lifestyle, social, cultural, and religious values and practice norms and values in every sector. He also stressed on the importance of having values over skills because skills may help us achieve economic progress but to have a truly inclusive society, we must inculcate values. And the concerned authority may consider keeping a budget for driving this agenda for the youth.
Md. Hedayetullah Al Mamoon said that the government is trying to ensure equality in every sector. To grow youth productivity, we need to increase investment on youth.
Iqbal Habib said that the environment needs special care from every single person and the government properly allocate budget for the environment and provide financial assistance to the youth. In the upcoming budget, the government should allocate special budget for the people's mental health.
Md. Azharul Islam Khan said DYD is providing training on skill development in each district. The training module is not just to develop skilled youth but also to prevent them from violence and extremism.
Nazmul Ahsan said that the government should monitor every implementation of development and budget for accountability. Different communities need different types of support which need to be considered while planning. An empowering environment needs to established for young people.
Amiya Prapan Chakraborty Arka said the youth's voice need to be heard and for that a national youth council needs to be formed and a youth bank established for proper youth financing.
Professor Md. Shah Azam said developing youth and skilled youth is a part of national development. In the upcoming budget, government should allocate proper budget for entrepreneurs.
Recommendation from the guests and youth speakers
1. Increased budget for the youth.
2. Easy loan facilitation and special allocation for entrepreneurs.
3. Special package for women entrepreneurs.
4. Reduce the cost of the internet and increase the quality of service.
5. Increase allocation in agriculture and provide fair prices for goods.
6. Quality development and increased allocation in the education sector.
7. Formation of a national youth council.
8. Enactment of the Right to Food Act to ensure food for all.
9. Special allocation for minority communities.
10. Establishment of youth banks.
11. Incentive for unemployed youth.
12. Increase the budget and sustainable development in the field of environment and climate.
Amiya Prapan Chakraborty Arka, Executive Director, Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF) was present as the moderator of the event.
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