BPL survey in the state to begin from Sept 15

"The Centre on Thursday allowed the state government to start survey for preparation of the new BPL list ahead of other states," Panchayati Raj Minister Maheswar Mohanty told reporters.

The survey, after a gap of 14 years, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, he said adding the new BPL list is likely to come into effect from 2012-13 fiscal.

Physical household survey for preparing the list would be completed within 45 days from September 15, the minister said adding that about 23,500 enumerators would be engaged in the survey activities.

The state government had earlier requested the Centre to allow it to start the survey for identifying families living below the poverty lines at an early date in view of the panchayat polls scheduled to be held in February.

Though the state government had undertaken a survey to renew the BPL list in 2002, it could not be implemented due to some dispute with the Centre, the minister said adding the list of 1997 was still being used for implementation of different welfare schemes for the poor people.

The state government will not engage primary school teachers in the BPL survey this time, Panchayati Raj secretary P K Jena said adding the Centre has agreed to provide machines and data entry operators for smooth completion of the survey exercise.