48 lakh BPL families not getting benefit from welfare schemes

Patna, Mar 17(UNI) Rural Development Minister Baidyanath Mahto today told the Assembly that 48 lakh Below Poverty Line families in Bihar were still deprived from any benefit of government welfare schemes launched for the under privileged of the society.

Replying to a special debate on budgetary demand in the House, Mr Mahto called upon all political parties to put pressure on the Centre to revise the ''yardstick'' for identification of the people living BPL and to include 48 lakh poor families in the list for providing benefits to them under various welfare schemes.

'' The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is being effectively implemented throughout the state and a massive awareness campaign has been launched to inform the villagers about the benefits of this ambitious scheme,'' he said, adding the Centre should increase the allocation of each dwelling unit under Indira Awas Yojna(IAY) to Rs 40,000 in view of escalating prices of building materials.

Mr Mahto said the state government was engaged in filling-up the posts lying vacant for the last 20 years to tone up the administration for effective implementation of the ongoing various development and welfare schemes of the government.

Dissatisfied with the minister's reply, RJD members walked out of the House. Later, the budgetary demand of rural development of Rs 1170.62 crore was passed by voice vote in the House after rejecting cut motion moved by independent member Kishore Kumar Munna.

UNI KKS KK SW KN2008