(a) whether the Expert Group set up to advise on the methodology and criteria to
identify Below Poverty Line(BPL) families has since submitted its report;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the salient features of the recommendations of the Expert Group; and
(d) the status of their implementation?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTAITON, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF ATOMIC ENERGY AND SPACE (SHRI S. B. MOOKHERJEE)
(a) to (c): Yes Sir, the Expert Group to advise on the criteria, methodology and Survey
Schedules for BPL Census (2002) has submitted its report in September 2002. The
report has recommended that thirteen scorable socio-economic indicators namely, Size
group of operational holding of land, Type of house, Average availability of normal wear
clothing, Food security, Sanitation, Ownership of consumer durables, Literacy status of
the highest literate adult, Status of the household in labour force, Means of Livelihood,
Status of children, Type of indebtedness, Reasons for migration from household and
Preference for assistance, each having scores 0,1,2,3,4 depending on the status of the
household, are to be used for working out a composite score for each rural household.
(d): On the basis of the recommendations of Expert Group the State Governments/UT
Administrations were issued instructions to carry out the BPL Census, which was to be
completed in June, 2003. However, due to the ruling of the Hon`ble Supreme Court, in
People`s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Writ Petition no. 196 of 2001, the results of
the BPL Census have not been finalized.