BPL, Antyodaya lists to be reviewed for transparency

The Himachal Pradesh Government will begin reviewing the lists of beneficiaries under the Below Poverty Line (BPL), Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), and Antyodaya schemes from April 15. The initiative, announced by the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government last year, aims to ensure that the selection process is transparent, fair, and free from political influence.

For the past 15 years, successive governments failed to update or verify the lists of beneficiaries. This negligence gave panchayats a free hand in selecting beneficiaries, often on political considerations, which deprived many deserving families of the benefits provided under these welfare schemes.

According to official sources, the Panchayati Raj Department has prepared a comprehensive roadmap to conduct the selection process in a transparent manner. It has been decided that all Gram Sabha meetings where selections are made will be videographed, and adequate police force will be deployed to ensure order and fairness. A three-member committee will be constituted in every panchayat to scrutinize the documents of applicants.

The process is scheduled to be completed by June 15. Thereafter, the finalised lists of selected beneficiaries will be displayed on panchayat signboards for public viewing. Any objections will be invited and addressed during open house meetings of the Gram Sabha in July. Based on the recommendations of the verification committees, ineligible beneficiaries will be removed, and eligible applicants will be added. New applicants can submit their forms to the panchayats by April 30.

Currently, about 2.60 lakh families are registered under the BPL category in Himachal Pradesh. These families are entitled to several benefits, including subsidised food grains, housing, healthcare, and educational support for their children. Out of the state’s 3,615 panchayats, only 38 are classified as BPL-free.

For the first time, Subdivisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) have been assigned supervisory roles in the selection process to enhance accountability and fairness. Previously, panchayats had unchecked authority in the selection process, leading to widespread irregularities.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has stressed the need for a robust mechanism to ensure that only the truly deserving families are included in the BPL, IRDP, and Antyodaya lists.

Himachal Tribune