Mousumi Khatun knew physiotherapy existed for her son Shaon. The District Disability Service and Support Centre (DSSC) was 25 kilometres from their home in Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh. Shaon, now 16 months old, has severe cerebral palsy — his hands grip tightly and involuntarily, making it impossible for him to grasp food, hold a toy, or feed himself. Mousumi carries him everywhere. Her husband works as a daily labourer. The round trip to the DSSC cost more than the household could absorb. “We knew therapy could help, but the bus fare was impossible,” she said.
The Healthy Village Urban (HVU) programme database identifies 570 children with disabilities in the Lalmonirhat area. Of these, 190 are considered recoverable with consistent physiotherapy. Before HVU introduced a transport allowance, only 76 of those children — 40% — were attending therapy at least once a month. The therapy was there. The barrier was the cost of getting there.
In April 2024, Mousumi attended a Courtyard (CY) session where HVU staff explained the DSSC and what it offered. From June 2024, she began receiving a monthly transport allowance of BDT 1,000 (~€7). She started taking Shaon to the DSSC regularly. The allowances are distributed in person at community gatherings, with the Mayor, Union Parishad (UP) chairpersons, DSSC officials, and social protection staff present. The child must attend each distribution.
After five months of regular physiotherapy, Shaon can grasp lightweight toys. He can bring a spoon to his mouth with guidance. He turns toward familiar voices and makes sustained eye contact during play. Regular attendance also opened a second pathway: HVU’s social protection officers supported Mousumi in applying for a Suborno Card — a government disability registration that provides a monthly disability grant and priority access to health and education services. In November 2024, Shaon received the card. The travel allowance had not just enabled physiotherapy; it had created the conditions for the family to access a support system they were entitled to but had never been able to reach.
Between July 2024 and April 2025, 150 children with disabilities across the programme area received transport allowances, with a total disbursement of BDT 1,50,000 (~€1,065). Monthly therapy attendance among recoverable children has doubled — from 40% to over 80%. The mechanism was straightforward: a reliable, small, regular cash transfer that addressed the specific barrier families themselves identified. The families hardest to reach are those facing compounded hardship, where transport costs sit alongside food insecurity and lost wages. The programme is exploring distance-adjusted amounts and home-based visits to extend coverage to them.