| The number of BPL families has increased from 41 lakh as per the survey carried out in 1996-1997 to the 45 lakh families in the latest survey carried out by the ministry. |
| This means nearly 40 per cent of the rural Maharashtra leaves below the poverty line as the total number of families in the rural Maharashtra is around 1.10 crore |
| This hike is despite the change in norms to eliminate the bogus claimants of the BPL status from the list of BPL families. |
| As per earlier norms a family whose income is below Rs 12,000 per annum was considered to be the BPL family. |
| But as it was very easy to influence the local sarpanchs and gramsevak and get the BPL family certificate, there were many undeserving families use to get into the list of BPL families and enjoy the benefits of the schemes met for the BPL families, said a senior official from the rural development ministry. |
| There was popular demand from politicians and some NGOs to increase the limit of income and carry-out survey but the state government stick to its policy, official added. |
| That's why this time around, while carrying out survey, surveyors were asked to get the information on 12 different norms and each norms was weighed with marks. |
| The points on which surrey was carried out included, whether that family owns any land, whether family have any cattle, whether family has electrical connection, whether family has vehicle (bicycle), added the official. |
| The districts from Marathwada, Vidharbha and Northern Maharashtra had a relatively higher number of BPL families considered to the Western Maharashtra, which is more developed part of the state, said official. |
| Speaking about the increase in the number of families despite the change in norms he said, "Population rise is obviously one reason but due to the extensive survey methodology adopted, families which otherwise do not figure in the BPL category have also figured in the survey." |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard