MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (e): For allocation of foodgrains (wheat and rice) to States and Union Territories (UTs)
under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Department of Food & Public Distribution uses
the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning
Commission and the population estimates of the Registrar General of India as on 1st March 2000
or the number of such families actually identified and ration cards issued to them by the State
/UT Governments, whichever is less. As per these estimates, the number of BPL families is 6.52
crore, which includes about 2.44 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families. Allocation of foodgrains
to these 6.52 crore accepted number of BPL families, including AAY families, are made @ 35 kg per
family per month. However, the State/UT Governments have reported (upto 30.6.2011) issue of 10.76
crore ration cards for BPL families, including about 2.44 crore AAY families. The higher number
of BPL ration cards issued by them is due to improper targeting of the poor households and have
inclusion as well as exclusion errors.
As reported by the Ministry of Rural Development, the methodology for conducting the Socio Economic
and Caste Census in rural area has been approved by the Union Cabinet with the modification that:
(i) The Ministry of Rural Development further discuss the criteria for inclusion/exclusion with
the Dr. N.C. Saxena Committee and
(ii) Census be completed by December, 2011.
Ministry of Rural Development has also reported that the Socio Economic and Caste Census has been formally
launched on 29.6.2011 in the State of Tripura. This will be followed in other States/UTs in a phased manner
taking into consideration their preparedness and other relevant considerations. The census is targeted to
be completed by December, 2011.
For urban areas, the Planning Commission had set up an Expert Group headed by Prof. S.R. Hashim to recommend
the detailed methodology for identification of families living below poverty line in the urban areas.
As reported by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, the above Expert Group has submitted
its interim report. Union Cabinet has approved the following proposals from Ministry of Housing and
Urban Poverty Alleviation with the modification that the proposed BPL census be completed by December 2011:
(i) Approval of the approach recommended in the Interim Report of the Hashim Expert Group on identification
of the urban poor areas for the 12th Five Year Plan period; and the Survey Questionnaire devised for
conducting the BPL survey; and
(ii) Approval to conduct the Below Poverty Line (BPL) survey in urban areas along with the proposed
caste enumeration and rural BPL survey with the assistance of the Registrar General of India (RGI)
as per the approach proposed above.
