36K families below poverty line

March 18, 2014


TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: There are 36,175 below the poverty line families in the State, 80% of whom have entered their names in the BPL list through an appeal.
Canacona constituency has the highest number of 3,306 families living below the poverty line, while Mormugao has the lowest according to data released by the State government. Data for four constituencies including Panjim has not been released.
According to procedure, eligible persons’ names are entered into the BPL census that is conducted according to guidelines issued by the Government of India. The previous BPL census was conducted in 2002 and on the basis of the survey of that census there were only 7,018 families that were found to have been living below the poverty line.
Families can however include their names in the BPL list if they are aggrieved by the BPL list drawn up by the census authorities and can file “appeals” before the mamlatdar or joint mamlatdar, who functions as the first appellate authority. The deputy collector is the second appellate authority, whose decision will be final.
Using this process over the last 12 years, more than 29,000 families have filed and got their names included into the BPL lists. They can then avail of various applicable schemes.
Canacona has the highest number of BPL families clocking 3,306 families. Census data however shows that only 441 were classified as BPL in 2002 and 2,865 qualified through the appeal procedure. Poriem comes next with 2,901 families below poverty line and Sanguem has 2,572 families. Valpoi follows with 2,383 families and Tivim constituency has 2,167 families below poverty line.
A further 260 appeals are pending before the mamlatdars either because they have been filed recently or because the appeal process is pending before the mamlatdars or joint mamlatdars, because the file has been sent to the Talathi for inquiry into the appeal and status of the family.
Reasons why there are so many appeals from BPL families is not known. The criteria for inclusion either through the census or through the appeal process, is the same. The Revenue Minister said, according to the guidelines, North Goa has cut off score of 14 to be declared as BPL and South Goa has a cut off score of 18 calculated on the basis of 13 cardinal indicators.

• Canacona constituency tops with 3,306 families
• Mormugao has the lowest according to data
• Data of four constituencies including Panjim not released
• The BPL census of 2002 records showed only 7,018 families