Toilets deprive BPL status to MP poor

Bhopal, Mar 14 (UNI) Get a toilet constructed with a grant and emerge from the Below Poverty Line status (BPL) sans any discernible change in financial position! This overnight metamorphosis took place on April 1, 2006 when the new BPL list came into force and about 11 lakh poor families in Madhya Pradesh were struck off the earlier list.

Even those in the new list were yet to be provided foodgrain, sugar and kerosene at cheaper rates for want of new ration cards in lieu of surrendered old ones.

The issue was raised by the opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today through a call attention notice moved by Dr I M P Verma (BSP) and others. The non-Congress opposition members staged a walkout expressing dissatisfaction over the government reply.

The opposition was dissatisfied with Rural Development Minister Rustam Singh's contention that only the Centre could order re-survey to enlist those left out during a family survey conducted in 2002-03.

The Minister admitted that since the new list came into force last April, 11.42 lakh applications were received for inclusion. As many as 8.71 lakh applications were disposed of and 2.21 lakh applicants found eligible for inclusion, Mr Singh said, adding that 6.50 lakh applicants were found ineligible.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who intervened, said that the government was committed to improve the condition of the poor and would ensure that those in the list were supplied ration at cheaper rates. He, however, pointed out that the Centre reduced the state's quota of kerosene, wheat and sugar for distribution to weaker sections.

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