Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has instructed the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department to commence the fourth phase of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) identification survey starting February 1. The government’s objective is to ensure the inclusion of all eligible families in the BPL list to enable them to access government welfare programs.
The BPL survey is being carried out in five phases to guarantee that deserving impoverished families receive their entitled benefits. So far, 59,829 BPL families have been added to the list in the initial three phases across the state. The Chief Minister emphasized that eligible families encompass orphans up to 27 years old, households with members over 59 years old, and families with disabled members aged 27 to 59 years.
Families led by women without adult male members aged 27 to 59 years, and households where the head is disabled by 50% or more, are also eligible for BPL coverage. Moreover, families that worked a minimum of 100 days under MGNREGA in the previous fiscal year will qualify. Additionally, households with earning members afflicted by chronic illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or other conditions resulting in permanent disability will be considered. Concrete house dwellers who received financial aid under state or Central housing schemes will also be incorporated.
