Census for BPL families in city to begin from July 18

For the first time a survey to determine the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in urban areas will be conducted in Chandigarh. The city has been chosen among some States and Union Territories for a pilot project. The socio-economic caste census for BPL families will begin on July 18 after a notification for the project was issued today.The survey will be the joint responsibility of the DC office and the Municipal Corporation and requisite training will be provided to the concerned staff.

Meanwhile,Satya Pal Jain former MP and National In-charge of the Legal and Legislative Cell of the BJP has urged the Centre to raise the maximum income criteria,for inclusion in the BPL category,from the present amount of Rs 630 per month to at least Rs 3,000 per month. This will ensure a large number of really poor people enjoy benefits under the schemes meant for the category,he said.

In a statement issued today,Jain said at present,as per the criteria of the union government,only those who earn less than Rs 21 per day are poor. He said 0that this limit was unrealistic as with this income,a person cannot even feed himself for a day.

While tonnes of food grains were deteriorating in storage facilities of the Centre,crores of poor people were starving to death,Jain said.

He demanded that as per the directions of the Supreme Court,these food grains be distributed free to the people in the BPL category after increasing their income limit.