Date:26/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102654010400.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

New comprehensive BPL list to be out soon

N.J. Nair

Data already available will be used for the list
Demographic profile will be used as the primary source

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In order to steer clear of the confusion caused by the local self-government institutions in preparing the list of families below poverty line (BPL), the Local Self-Government Department is likely to draw up a new comprehensive list soon.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Saturday that repeating the entire course of action was not viable. It was a laborious and time-consuming proposal and the department was planning to make use of the data available at its disposal for preparing and finalising the new list.

Demographic profile of the State would be the primary source. The list which was earlier authenticated by Kudumbasree workers through a survey would also be used to verify the details of families. Backwardness of districts, statistical data of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as well as other marginalised sections in each district, service pensioners, government employees and families of non-resident Indians (NRIs) would be corroborated with the support of the district administration.

More than 30 lakh

As per the list prepared by the grama panchayats, the number of BPL families has already touched 30 lakh and on completing the process, it is likely to surpass 50 lakh. As much as 70 per cent of the 999 grama panchayats, 53 municipalities and all the five corporations are being governed by the LDF.

The massive increase in the number of poor families from the 20 lakh fixed by the State government earlier to 50 lakh could be considered as a reflection of the quality of the governance. It may be deemed as a failure of the LSGIs to improve the quality of living and have a bearing on the image of the State government too.

There were complaints that majority of the elected members had used the list validation process as a means for strengthening their mass base and liberally included almost all the voters in their wards on the premise that it would be a passport for availing themselves of subsidised health care and other benefits from the government. Hence, the department is likely to seek explanation from the civic chiefs for preparing the list in a lackadaisical manner. The civic chiefs may also be directed to publish the list at the panchayat, municipal and corporation offices, sources said.