Are you below/above the poverty line?

How many are really poor in India? The figures have always been disputed. But now, the rural development ministry is coming out with a new set of criteria to determine who makes it to the below poverty line (BPL) list.

“The ministry has finalised five characteristics that will decide whether a person is below or above the poverty line,” said a source in the ministry. The criteria were cleared at a meeting of state rural development secretaries on June 13.

Families who meet any one or more of the following criteria will not be considered eligible for BPL listing: A monthly income of over Rs5,000, a person owning a mechanised farm implement or a two-wheeler and above, living in a pucca house of about 1,100 square feet.

The land holding of a family should also be less than the district’s average land holding size to be considered eligible for BPL category.

“The enumeration will begin at the end of this month and continue till January 2010. After a preliminary survey by the village panchayat, a rough list will be posted on the walls of the panchayat building. After that someone from another block will come and, helped by three people from the village, verify the list.