(a) whether the Union Government has prepared the list of people living below the poverty
line in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether there are several discrepancies in the list prepared by the Government due to
which the purpose for which it is being prepared is not fulfilled; and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRADEEP JAIN “ADITYAâ€)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Rural Development provide financial and technical support to
the States/UTs for conducting the BPL Census to identify the families living Below the Poverty
Line in the rural areas who could be targeted under its programmes. The BPL Census is conducted
by the respective States/UTs and the BPL lists are prepared and maintained/updated by the
respective State Governments/UT administrations. The last BPL Census was conducted in 2002
using the methodology based on Score Based Ranking of each household on socio-economic
indicators taken as proxy indicators of poverty on recommendation of an Expert Group
constituted by the Ministry of Rural Development. 550.821 lakhs rural families were identified
under BPL Census 2002, as BPL households, as per last available reports from States/UTs.
State-wise details are given in Annexure.
(c) & (d): BPL lists prepared on the basis of BPL Census 2002 provide target groups for
implementation of programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development by States/UTs. In order to
ensure transparency and reduce discrepancies, the States were advised to give wide publicity to
the BPL list, get it approved from the Gram Sabha and to display it on the website and in
prominent places and the Panchayat headquarters. To ensure that no genuine poor households are
left and to address public grievances, States were requested to provide a two stage appeal
mechanism so that people can file objections, if any, to the designated authorities.