(Repeating with corrections in para one)

Bhopal, Apr 1 (UNI) A staggering 40 per cent of the population in Madhya Pradesh is living below poverty line, according to the new BPL list coming into effect from today.

The earlier BPL list prepared in 1997-98, which was in force till yesterday, stood cancelled automatically, official sources said.

To ensure that the benefits of various welfare schemes reached poor families, the state government had finalised the new list on the basis of BPL survey conducted during 2003-03. ''Now 39.54 per cent of the population would be covered with the benefits of various government schemes,'' the sources said.

The new BPL list, which had already been brought out in all district panchayats and gram panchayats, would be available area-wise with all gram panchayats, block panchayats and district panchayats.

UNI SP LR RK1155