The home ministry is opposing a proposal by the rural development ministry to merge a census to identify families living below the poverty line with the caste census, raising the possibility of a conflict between two key ministries. “We have objected to the move as it would lead to many complications,” said a home ministry official. The rural development ministry had recommended carrying out the two enumerations simultaneously to accelerate the process...

In a move that might put the Union government in conflict with the states, the ministry of rural development has recommended merging the census to identify below poverty line (BPL) families with the caste census to accelerate the process of determining the number of poor, according to a person familiar with the matter. The caste census, conducted by the Registrar General of India, or RGI, is due to begin on 1...

The below poverty line (BPL) and Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families in Karantaka get only 20 kg instead of the scheduled 35 kg of food grain every month due to paucity of supply by the Centre, the Supreme Court has been told. Out of about 5.28-crore population in Karnataka, 25 per cent, numbering 1.38 crore people averaging 37 per cent nationally, belong to below poverty line (BPL) and get benefits of...

Despite its seminal success in beginning a process of addressing issues of poverty, starvation and empowering the poor, the MGNREGA needed a general election to breathe life into it. However, the disproportionate influence of the middle class on social sector policy has led to the same set of pre-election prejudices resurfacing. "What use is the MGNREGA to the economy at large?" asks the businessman, one eye fixed apprehensively on the share...

The NAC proposals for the food security bill are narrow and lack in vision. What is needed is a comprehensive bill with universalisation of PDS and a focus on child malnutrition.   There was much excitement when food security became one of the issues in the manifestos of most major political parties in the run up to the 2009 General Elections. With burgeoning food stocks, double-digit food inflation, stagnant malnutrition rates, declining...