THE Congress government’s decision to revise the parameters of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in Himachal Pradesh has been slammed by the BJP as motivated by politics. However, the Congress argues that it is a normal process and won’t yield any benefits as the overall numbers will not change.
Families with no adult members between the ages of 18 and 59, or those headed by women or a member with a disability of 50% or more, or that have worked for at least 100 days under the MGNREGA in the previous financial year, or whose earning members suffer from chronic illnesses, now fall under the BPL category in Himachal. The annual income threshold for BPL inclusion has also been raised to Rs 1.5 lakh, up from the previous Rs 30,000.

The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has not clarified who would be removed to keep the number even.
The BJP has said it will “closely monitor” the re-survey of BPL families as per the new criteria, which is set to begin in April. Though Opposition leaders agree that the existing BPL list of approximately 2.66 lakh families should be re-examined, they emphasise “complete transparency” and “impartiality”. Inclusion in the BPL category is an eligibility condition for several welfare schemes, making it potentially a powerful political mechanism.
Referring to allegations of favouritism during the distribution of disaster relief funds following the 2023 floods, BJP MLA and party spokesperson Randhir Sharma said, “Our cadre will closely monitor the re-survey of BPL families.” He added: “When the Congress decides to re-survey a welfare scheme, it is hard to believe it won’t serve its political interests. While we agree that the BPL list needs re-evaluation to ensure only genuine beneficiaries receive support, we are sceptical of the mechanisms that will be employed.”
Jairam Thakur, Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister, claimed the government revised the criteria to “divert attention” from issues in the BPL schemes. “The government speaks of changing the rules for the BPL list but is simultaneously snatching away facilities provided to BPL families. The Him-Care scheme for BPL families has been discontinued. The Kanyadaan scheme for daughters of BPL families remains non-functional. By changing the criteria for selecting BPL families, the government is merely trying to divert attention,” Thakur said.
In April 2024, when the list was last revised, the BPL category included families owning less than one hectare of land; not having a large permanent house; not earning more than Rs 2,500 per month; not paying income tax; not owning any vehicle; or having no member employed in a regular or contractual government or private job.
After the Cabinet decision changing the BPL criteria on January 9, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh told The Indian Express: “The feedback we received suggested that many deserving families were not benefiting from government schemes because they weren’t included in the BPL list… Parameters have also been set to exclude families that no longer meet the requirements.” However, Singh too was not clear about notification on the exclusion parameters.
Kuldeep Singh Rathore, AICC national spokesperson and Theog MLA, said, “The BJP’s allegations are baseless. A government cannot manipulate schemes like BPL for political gains. The BPL numbers, approximately 2.66 lakh, will remain the same. If new families are added, others will be removed. Decisions made at the gram panchayat level will involve members from all political parties, ensuring scrutiny and fairness.”
The number of BPL families also fluctuate based on applications, sources pointed out. A leader said: “We are sure that many families, which have been getting benefits under BPL schemes, will be excluded after the re-survey of the existing BPL families. For instance, in 2022-23, the number of BPL families in the state decreased from 2,66,326 to 2,65,588. By January 15, 2024, the number had risen again to 2,66,304.” Compared to 2020-21, when the BPL family numbers stood at 2.59 lakh, there were 7,452 more such families as of January 15 last year.
Himachal’s 2.66 lakh BPL families, across 3,615 gram panchayats, include 26.71% of the total rural households. Of the BPL families, 38.75% are Scheduled Castes, 6.9% Scheduled Tribes, 15.07% women-headed households, and 39.38% others.
The Kangra district has the highest number of BPL families (63,972), followed by Chamba (47,165) and Mandi (42,012), while Lahaul-Spiti has the lowest (2,987).
A senior Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department officer said the re-survey is a tedious process. “Applicants must file forms, and the status of existing BPL families will also be reviewed. The entire exercise could take over a year to complete.”
Applications will be submitted to gram panchayats, verified by block development officers (BDOs) and sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs), and then forwarded to the state government for final approval.
Discover the Benefits of Our Subscription!
Stay informed with access to our award-winning journalism.
Avoid misinformation with trusted, accurate reporting.
Make smarter decisions with insights that matter.
Choose your subscription package