New BPL guidelines face backlash in Fatehpur as deserving families left out

The state government’s newly notified parameters for identifying below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries during gram sabha meetings have sparked widespread dissatisfaction, especially in the Fatehpur development block of Kangra district. Rather than achieving their intended objective of transparency and fairness, the revised guidelines are being criticised for being overly stringent and counterproductive, leading to the exclusion of many deserving families.

In the 66 gram panchayats of Fatehpur, the revision of existing BPL lists and the selection of new beneficiaries has come to a standstill. The reason: villagers are increasingly losing interest in attending the gram sabha meetings. These meetings have failed to reach the required quorum in all panchayats.

Despite some panchayats convening the meetings twice in the past month, not a single one has succeeded in finalising the list due to poor attendance, reflecting a larger disillusionment among residents.

Villagers argue that the new yardsticks are far too harsh and arbitrary. A key point of contention is the government’s condition that families living in pucca houses are not eligible for inclusion in the BPL list. Local leaders say this rule is unjustified, as many poor families constructed small concrete homes using funds received under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. As a result, even genuinely poor families who availed government support for housing are now being penalised and declared ineligible.

Ganesh Kumar Sharma, pradhan of Jumb Khas panchayat, voiced strong opposition to the new policy. He pointed out that the revised guidelines are effectively removing the majority of deserving families from the BPL list. He called for the restoration of earlier criteria, which he said allowed local bodies more discretion in identifying the truly needy. He further alleged that the new norms were an attempt to undermine the authority of gram panchayats.

BDO Subhash Atri acknowledged the challenges being faced. He said in accordance with government directions, panchayat-level committees under the supervision of the SDM had been formed. These committees have shortlisted applicants for BPL inclusion, but their names still need to be approved in gram sabha meetings.