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Himachal Pradesh Set to Revamp BPL List with New Guidelines
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 10 (Diary Times): The Himachal Pradesh government is preparing to overhaul the Below Poverty Line (BPL) lists, with the goal of removing ineligible families and ensuring that benefits reach those who truly deserve them. Starting in April, a thorough survey will exclude families owning bungalows and cars from the BPL category. The state cabinet has approved new guidelines developed by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, aimed at bringing greater transparency and fairness to the process.
The monthly income threshold for BPL families has been raised from ₹2,500 to ₹12,500. In addition, new categories of families will be eligible for inclusion in the BPL list. These include women-headed households, families with a member suffering from a disability of 50% or more, those who worked for a minimum of 100 days under MNREGA in the previous financial year, and families with earning members battling critical illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, or thalassemia.
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To combat irregularities, a two-member committee, consisting of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Block Development Officer (BDO), will now inspect each panchayat before finalizing the BPL list. Previously, Panchayat Pradhans or Gram Sabhas made the decisions, and there was an appeal process where SDMs could address grievances after the list was finalized. However, this system often discouraged disadvantaged families from contesting the inclusion of more influential individuals.
