Increase in number of BPL families govt failure: Selja

Sirsa MP and former Union Minister Kumari Selja said today that Haryana, which is considered a leading state in terms of economic development and prosperity in India, has now become a below poverty line (BPL) state due to the negligence of one of its own departments — the Citizen Resource Information Department.

“This is because 70 per cent of its total population has fallen below the poverty line. The increasing number of BPL families is a report card of the government's failure. The government should explain how such a large population became poor despite their claims of development.”

In a statement released to the media, Selja said that it was surprising that those who truly deserved BPL cards and benefits did not receive them. According to the per capita income data released last year, Haryana ranks second in the country with an annual per capita income claim of Rs 2.96 lakh.

“If this is the case, then how come there are so many BPL families, and where did they come from? The BJP has no achievements to showcase. In 10 years, the BJP has turned 70 per cent of Haryana's population into poor. Now, the government should answer this.”

She said that the increasing number of BPL families was a report card of the government's failure. “The government should clarify how such a large population became poor despite their development claims. If the increase in BPL numbers is due to data manipulation, the responsible government officials should be held accountable and punished. If any individual declares their income in the family identity card, it is the government's responsibility to verify it, but it seems no action is being taken due to this investigation.”