BPL CENSUS 2002

1
BPL CENSUS -2002

• By
• Ministry of Rural Development

2
Background

• Estimation of poverty in the country is done by
  the Planning Commission.
• Poverty estimation is based on the sample survey
  of consumer expenditure carried out by NSSO.
• MoRD conducts BPL census in the beginning of the
  every Five Year Plan to identify the BPL families
  in the rural areas to assist them under different
  programmes.

3
BPL Census 1992

• First BPL census was conducted in 1992 for the
  8th Plan. Guidelines issued on 15th November
  1991.
• Income ( Rs. 11000/- per family per annum) was
  used as a criteria.
• Information on BPL families was collected in four
  categories having income upto Rs. 4000, Rs.
  4000-6000, Rs. 6000-8500 and Rs. 8500-11000.

4
BPL Census 1997

• For 9th Plan BPL census guidelines issued on 21st
  April 1997.
• Two schedules were prescribed. Schedule A
  included list of items for exclusion of families
  from BPL list( Pucca house, more than 2 hec. of
  land, consumer durables etc.)
• A family with annual income of Rs.20,000 was
  excluded.

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Contd..

• A departure was made from income approach to
  household consumer expenditure approach.
• Objective was to check under-estimation of
  income.
• Expenditure details on food, clothing and other
  basic amenities were collected.

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BPL Census 1992 1997-Limitations

• Both income expenditure approaches had higher
  element of subjectivity.
• Inconsistency of results with official poverty
  estimates of Planning Commission.
• Exclusion criteria was also subject to criticism.
• Uniform criteria of income expenditure lacked
  flexibility.

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Constitution of Expert Group - BPL Census 2002

• Expert Group constituted on 28th Nov 2001.
• Expert Group comprised of senior officers of
  central govt. , academicians, state govt.
  representatives and professionals in the field.
• Mandate was to advise on the methodology,
  modifications in the household schedules and
  analysis of data so collected.

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Important Events - BPL Census 2002

• On 5th Sep. 2002, Expert Group submitted report.
• On 13th Sep. 2002, guidelines for BPL Census 2002
  issued with the stipulation to identify the
  number of BPL families equal to the poverty
  estimates of Planning Commission for 1999-2000.
• On 30th Jan.2003, option of no. of BPL families
  equal to adjusted share given.
• On 2nd July 2003, states advised not to finalize
  the BPL list in view of Supreme Court Order of
  5th May 2003.

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Methodology

• Identification of Rural poor through door to door
  survey.
• A Score Based Ranking of each household
  indicating quality of life prescribed.
• 13 Scorable Socio- Economic indicators with a
  Score ranging 0-4 prescribed.
• A schedule for profile of household also
  prescribed.
• States given flexibility in deciding the cut off
  point.

10
Contd..

• States were suggested to compare poverty
  estimates with the data of NSSO survey on
  Consumer expenditure at sub-regional level.
• Total number of BPL families not to exceed the
  poverty estimates of Planning Commission for the
  Year 1999-2000.
• Subsequently, the states were given the options
  to identify the no. of BPL households equal to
  the poverty estimates of 1999-2000 or the
  adjusted share, whichever was higher.

11
Contd..

• Scores of each household in a village to be
  displayed at a prominent place.
• Inter-se ranking of each BPL household also to be
  displayed after the approval of Gram Sabhas
• No additions in the list till next BPL census but
  deletions of households crossing the cut off
  points can be done once in a year by the Gram
  Sabha.
• Schedules for census to be translated into local
  languages.

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List of 13 Socio-Economic Parameters

• Size of operational landholding
• Type of house
• Availability of cloths
• Food security
• Sanitation
• Ownership of consumer durables
• Literacy status

13
Contd..

• Status of household labour force
• Means of livelihood
• Status of children(going to school)
• Type of indebtedness
• Reason for migration from household
• Preference for assistance

14
Supreme Court Order

• A Writ Petition no. 196/2001 was filed by PUCL in
  the Supreme Court regarding effective
  implementation of central Centrally Sponsored
  Scheme to prevent starvation deaths and
  malnutrition in calamity affected rural areas.
• During one of the hearings on 5th May 2003,
  Supreme Court issue the direction that GOI will
  not insist the State Govt. to remove any person
  from the existing BPL list.
• On 2nd July 2003, the states and UTs were issued
  the instructions not to finalize the BPL list.

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Contd

• In March 2004 States and UTs. were requested to
  complete the spade work for preparation of BPL
  List pending the application for modification of
  order.
• Getting the order modified was taking time.
• In October 2005, on the advise of ASG, Ministry
  issued the guidelines to finalize the BPL List
  without voilating the Supreme Court Order.

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Contd.

• Families in the BPL List 1997 getting excluded in
  the new list were to be placed at the bottom of
  the new list in order of their ranking.
• New list with scores and inter-se ranking to be
  displayed at Panchayat Headquarter for one month.
• Simultaneously approval of Gram Sabha to be
  obtained.

17
Contd.

• BPL List approved by Gram Sabha continued to be
  displayed at the Panchayat Headquarter till the
  final appeal procedure is over.
• Two stage appeal mechanism introduced
  (Tehsildar/SDM Collector).
• States were requested to finalise results within
  3-4 months.

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Vacation of Stay

• On 14th Feb., 2006, Stay was vacated by the
  Supreme Court.
• On 23rd Feb., 2006 States were informed to
  dispense with the details of 1997 BPL families in
  the new list.
• Provision was made to allow new names to be added
  and ineligible names deleted from the BPL List on
  a continuous basis during the period to which the
  list applies.

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Present Status

• Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Orissa and Mizoram
  submitted the rural household data.
• Some districts from other States also furnished
  the rural household data.
• No State has yet furnished the new BPL List based
  on BPL Census 2002.

20
Contd.

• Survey work and computerization of data has been
  completed by most of the States.
• The cut-off score has also been decided by a
  number of States which is uniform in some States
  varies from district to district in other States.
• Finalization of BPL List has to be expedited
  before taking any decision on the next BPL Census.