Automatic inclusion of SCs, STs in BPL list gets nod of Joshi

October 23, 2009: The Indian Express

In the first application of the ‘automatic inclusion’ concept in drawing up the list of BPL families, senior Congress leader and Rural Development Minister C P Joshi is learnt to have agreed to to the inclusion of SCs and STs in the above list. This in-principle acceptance comes in the backdrop of all-out efforts by Congress’ heir apparent, Rahul Gandhi, to win over the Dalit vote bank even as the Ministrymulls over the methodology to be adopted for a fresh BPL census.

However, Joshi reportedly developed cold feet over similar inclusion of the Muslim community- another crucial vote bank for the Congress- for fear of a political backlash. This despite him being armed with a strong recommendation from the Expert

Group on the methodology to give due weightage to the Muslim community along with the SCs and STs.

The Ministry of Rural Development in association with the states/UTs conducts the BPL census every five years to identify the rural households living below the poverty line for them to avail of benefits under the government’s poverty alleviation schemes. BPL families are entitled to benefits under schemes like Indira Awas Yojna, toilets, subsidised food grains etc. So far inclusion of rural families in the BPL list has been judged on several parameters ascertained through ground surveys.

Sources close to Joshi argued that he had decided on automatic inclusion of SCs and STs in a bid to simplify the survey. The move, however, is perceived to be loaded with political motives in view of the Congress’ all out effort to regain power in Uttar Pradesh.

¶With a view to making the survey simple, the Minister has decided that SCs and STs will be automatically included in the BPL list. Exclusion of well-off among them like those in government and private jobs will be done in the second stage¶, sources close to the Rural Development Minister C P Joshi told The Indian Express.

The report of the Expert Group on the methodology to be adopted for the BPL census, headed by N C Saxena, submitted to the Ministry recently places SCs, STs, Muslims, OBCs and women in the ¶affirmative action category¶. Referring to the Sachar Committee report it makes out a strong case for inclusion of Muslims pointing out that ¶in terms of employment, consumption, educational status etc, the Muslim community is seen to be lagging behind with respect to the rest of the population.¶ Some members of the group have even suggested that Muslims should be ranked above OBCs.

The problem confronting the government is the fiscal burden it would have to bear due to the huge jump in the BPL numbers if the opinions of experts are taken into account. Several states, however, have been lobbying hard for enlarging the BPL list arguing that the present figures did not reflect the ground reality.