Well-off families drawing BPL benefits in Mandi as govt fails to conduct fresh poverty survey

MANDI: Despite significant economic changes over the past 19 years, nearly 400 families in Mandi town continue to be listed under Below Poverty Line (BPL) status, largely due to the Himachal Pradesh government’s failure to conduct updated BPL surveys. This outdated system has allowed some families, who are now financially stable, to continue receiving benefits meant for the most vulnerable, effectively depriving those in genuine need of crucial support.

Back in 2005, a government survey identified 524 families in Mandi as BPL. Over the past 19 years, only 127 families have relinquished their BPL status, likely due to securing government jobs or starting businesses. The rest, however, remain listed as BPL despite noticeable improvements in their financial circumstances.

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Mandi Municipal Corporation Mayor Virender Bhatt has acknowledged the issue, stating that many current BPL families have moved above the poverty line. He emphasised the urgent need for a new survey to ensure that genuinely needy families are included in the BPL list. Bhatt has also appealed to well-off families to voluntarily withdraw from the BPL category.

Since Mandi town was upgraded from a municipal council to a municipal corporation in 2021, the inclusion of surrounding rural areas has increased the number of BPL families under its jurisdiction to 904.

According to Bhatt, the criteria for BPL selection have remained unchanged since 2005, including conditions such as living in a thatched house, having no family members in government employment, and earning an annual income below Rs 35,000. Additionally, the number of BPL families in the town is capped, with new families only being added when existing ones exit the list.

This situation has led to concerns about the fate of families who have been living below the poverty line for nearly two decades, only to see their rightful benefits usurped by others who no longer meet the criteria.

This issue is not confined to Mandi town alone. Across the district, there are thousands of families who, despite being classified as BPL, are now well-off. Until the state government undertakes a comprehensive BPL survey across Himachal Pradesh, removing these families from the list will remain a significant challenge.