Marginalised people can not benefit from social safety net programmes due to irregularities and at times nepotism of local government representatives, said Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman at a programme yesterday.

He, however, said they were trying to overcome the "occasional" ill-practice.

The programme was organised by World Vision in the capital's Cirdap auditorium to publicise a project, "Establishing Vulnerable Peoples' Rights and Access to Social Safety Net Programmes (EVPRA)".

NGO representatives, journalists, people working for marginalised communities, European Union's (EU) representatives and officials from other ministries were present.

Quazi Sohel Rana, executive director, Development for Disadvantaged People, said most of the marginalised people do not know anything about the programmes and how to realise the allocated money. Additional Secretary to the public administration ministry Abdullah said marginalised people were not aware of their rights, for which local government representatives were able to easily deceive and deprive them of the government facilities.

He stressed the need for monitoring to stop such illegal activities.

Kalpana Tigga from Dinajpur, a representative of the Santal community, said once a union official told an elderly woman of her community that she had to buy the card for old age allowance although it was meant for free distribution.

She urged the government to make it easier for target groups to receive allowances so that the actual marginalised communities become the beneficiaries.

Beginning in January and funded by the EU, the four-year EVPRA project involves implementation of nine social safety net programmes, including old age allowance, vulnerable group feeding, food for work and primary education stipend.

It targets 3 lakh marginalised people including Santals, elderly women, the challenged, and school-goers.