Ever imagined a BPL status for officers of high rank, retired Army personnel and government servants? If not, then have a peep into this article and you will find how the poor are reeling while others stealing the show.

BPL (Below Poverty Line) status is meant for the poorest of the poor. The official estimates of the poverty line are based on a norm of 2400 calories per capita per day for rural areas and 2100 per capita per day for urban areas. Despite all this, last Friday like many other times witnessed innocent killings by police. Police opened fire on a mob protesting against irregularities in preparation of the below poverty line (BPL) list in Matihani block in Bihar’s Begusarai district, resulting in two deaths leaving about six injured.

Under the coupon scheme introduced by chief minister Nitish kumar, every BPL family is to be provided with coupons to obtain subsidized grains and kerosene oil from the local PDS shop. It is to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) for the poor and to plug loopholes which are estimated to be over 50% in the state.

But all this looks good on paper, the story behind is far from reality. Reality lies in the fact that the scheme meant for the poor is actually far away from their hands. Corruption creeping in the system at all levels has left the poor to merely storm and fight for their rights. This is the very reason why about 500 people stormed the school building and looted coupons which were meant for them but they were being left out because of irregularities in the list which decides who gets the coupon. But the list showed the names of many who are above the poverty line, while those below were left to grapple in dark.

Take the example of one Basgit Chowdhury, a retired army man living in a pucca house, being listed in the BPL whereas Jagannath Ram, a landless Dalit, living in a thatched house, has found his name cut off from the list of BPL families and placed in Above poverty line (APL). This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many more Jagan nath Ram’s suffering for no fault of theirs. And what do they get if they protest for their rights, nothing but brickbats. Few even have to lose their lives. Then what is left for them, merely to curse their fate and cry for their bleak today and also tomorrow.

It is high time the government made proper arrangements so that neither anyone suffers at the hand of the administration or police. So far the government’s measurement of poverty has simply been a self-serving one, time is ripe we adopted a more honest and realistic calculation. Even the NGO’s and other private organizations can play their role in raising voice against such incidents and in providing solutions for the same. Only then can we hope of an India free from poverty, depravity and disease.

Source: Indian Express