BPL Selection to Ensure Welfare Benefits Reach Needy Families: Kuldeep Singh Pathania

Chamba (Chowari), August 11: Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said that identifying genuinely needy families living below the poverty line and ensuring that they receive the benefits of government welfare schemes is a priority of the state government.

Pathania made the statement while interacting with families selected under the BPL category on the basis of the survey conducted by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department at Ambedkar Bhawan, Chowari.

He said the state government had conducted an eight-phase survey to make the BPL selection process more transparent and effective, ensuring that families genuinely eligible for government assistance are included in the list. The exercise was aimed at identifying deserving households and ensuring that welfare benefits reach them in a timely manner.

The Assembly Speaker said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state government was giving special priority to social security and welfare. He said the government was focused on extending support to economically weaker families who may be deprived of essential facilities such as housing, education, healthcare and pensions.

He noted that complaints had previously been received regarding ineligible families being included in BPL lists while genuinely needy households remained excluded. In view of this, the government undertook a comprehensive survey to identify eligible families and bring greater transparency and fairness to the selection process.

Pathania said that cases of genuinely needy families who may have been left out during the survey could also be considered as per the prescribed eligibility criteria and rules.

He said the state government was committed to public welfare beyond political considerations and urged eligible beneficiaries to avail themselves of the various welfare schemes being implemented by the government.

During the interaction, Pathania also heard various grievances raised by local residents and directed officials to ensure their timely resolution. Several issues were resolved on the spot.

Earlier, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manish Soni welcomed the Assembly Speaker and provided detailed information about the BPL selection process and various welfare schemes. Block Development Officer Anil Gurada also shared key information regarding development activities in Bhatiyat Development Block.

Samagra Sikhsha