Patna, March 21 (IANS) It can happen possibly only in Bihar. The names of more than 100 dead figure in the below poverty line (BPL) list in the state, exposing the irregularities in the official list of the poorest of the poor.
After the inclusion of names of a minister, legislators, rich contractors and officials in the BPL list prepared by the Nitish Kumar government, the dead are now turning up on the list.
At the same time, hundreds of landless poor, who live below the poverty line, do not figure in the list, leading to widespread protests across the state.
The names of 101 dead people are in the BPL list under the Charpokhri block in Bhojpur district, about 60 km from here. 'We will look into it,' said a district official.
According to official sources, the names of dead included even those who passed away a decade ago.
However, officials at the Charpokhri block development office downplayed the issue by saying it was a clerical error.
'Some names of dead people figured in the BPL list due to errors in the computer. The officials concerned have been directed to remove the names and correct the list,' an official said.
In November, state Rural Development Minister Baidyanath Prasad Mahto, who owns a house in West Champaran district, land as well as a jeep, found his name in the BPL list. The list was being prepared under Mahto's supervision.
Last month it was reported that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia and a former legislator from Nokha in Rohtas district also figure in the BPL list.
Two people were killed and nearly six injured in the Matihani block of Begusarai district three days ago when the police fired to quell a mob that attacked the block office there alleging irregularities in the distribution of food stamps for those in the BPL list.
This gave the opposition an issue to attack the government.
The government has decided to prepare a fresh BPL list by deleting the names of undeserving beneficiaries and adding names that had been left out.
After the inclusion of names of a minister, legislators, rich contractors and officials in the BPL list prepared by the Nitish Kumar government, the dead are now turning up on the list.
At the same time, hundreds of landless poor, who live below the poverty line, do not figure in the list, leading to widespread protests across the state.
The names of 101 dead people are in the BPL list under the Charpokhri block in Bhojpur district, about 60 km from here. 'We will look into it,' said a district official.
According to official sources, the names of dead included even those who passed away a decade ago.
However, officials at the Charpokhri block development office downplayed the issue by saying it was a clerical error.
'Some names of dead people figured in the BPL list due to errors in the computer. The officials concerned have been directed to remove the names and correct the list,' an official said.
In November, state Rural Development Minister Baidyanath Prasad Mahto, who owns a house in West Champaran district, land as well as a jeep, found his name in the BPL list. The list was being prepared under Mahto's supervision.
Last month it was reported that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia and a former legislator from Nokha in Rohtas district also figure in the BPL list.
Two people were killed and nearly six injured in the Matihani block of Begusarai district three days ago when the police fired to quell a mob that attacked the block office there alleging irregularities in the distribution of food stamps for those in the BPL list.
This gave the opposition an issue to attack the government.
The government has decided to prepare a fresh BPL list by deleting the names of undeserving beneficiaries and adding names that had been left out.
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