Former MP M. Ramadoss | photo credit: ss kumar
Welcoming the Puducherry government’s initiative to give ₹1,000 per month to women heads of Below Poverty Line (BPL) households who are not covered under other welfare schemes, former MP M. Ramadoss urged the government to assess the actual beneficiaries. Requested poverty alleviation program in the Union Territory.
In a statement by the economist-turned-politician, 54% households are below the poverty line, which is the ratio of the number of red ration card holders to total households, according to information provided by the Civil Supplies Department in September, 2019. ,
At present, the estimated number of households is 3,58,644 and the number of beneficiaries under Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (Red Ration Card Holders) is 1,81,825. Hence, the poverty ratio is 50.7, he said.
However, according to data released by NITI Aayog in December 2021, the poverty percentage in Puducherry was 1.72. The Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister should clarify whether they agree with the figures of the NITI Aayog or the Civil Supplies Department. Looking at Puducherry’s progress and assessment of various reports including State Development Report (2010), Audit Report (2018-19), it can be safely concluded that only less than 5% people belong to BPL category. The logical consequence of the difference in data shows that a large number of families are pampered with red ration cards for vote bank politics,” Mr Ramdas said.
The government should ask itself how come an area with a per capita income of around Rs 2.51 lakh and 80% of its population with housing, water supply, education, electricity, pension and banking facilities will have more than half the population under the BPL category, They said.
“The benefits are not reaching the target population. The government should conduct a scientific survey to identify the real beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation schemes of the government. He said that the Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner should seriously consider the important issue of finance and governance while implementing the welfare schemes.