HP CM directs officials for fresh survey of BPL families

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directedofficials to conduct a fresh survey of families falling Below Poverty Line and said he was in favour of extending to BPL families of other castes the facilities given to the OBC community.
Presiding over a meeting of State Rajput Welfare Board, the chief minister said, "I will write to the Centre in this regard and in case there was no response from them, the state government will implement some of the welfare and housing schemes for BPL families of Rajput and Brahmin families on the analogy of benefits extended to SC/ST/OBC families".
During the meeting, the members of the Board demanded that welfare schemes also be extended to BPL families among Rajputs too.

He said that fresh BPL survey was needed, as many cases had surfaced wherein well-to-do families were listed in BPL list and actual poorest of the poor were deprived of all facilities.
Singh also asked the officials concerned to ask for affidavit from those families who at present were in BPL category and monitor the list periodically to ensure that the benefits percolated only to the targeted groups.
Chief Minister also assured to consider and look into the matter pertaining to loan facility to the meritorious students of BPL Rajput community for pursuing higher studies at subsidised rate of interest.

A serious view was taken by the members of Rajput community over alleged misuse of Atrocities against SC and ST Act and a demand was made that the state government should take up the matter for bringing desired amendments to the Act to check its misuse.

Later presiding over the meeting of Minorities Welfare Board, Singh directed the deputy commissioners to give priority to demand of land for graveyards and burial grounds. He also directed that the requests for fencing, raising boundary walls and installation of hand pumps.
He gave clear directions that all children homes, shelter homes, orphanages and Nari Niketans, should be properly managed and surprise checks should be conducted.

The chief minister said that a provision of 15 per cent reservation in government jobs had been made for the minority community and directions have been issued to give preference to them for jobs in private sector also.