Plan to restrict welfare schemes benefits to BPL families only in Puducherry

The Puducherry government proposes to modify a number of welfare measures to restrict the schemes to cover only families belonging to `below poverty line` in the Union Territory.
   
Welfare minister M Kandasamy said that presently a number of freebies implemented for all sections involved hefty expenditure. It was now proposed to collect error proof details of actual BPL families so that only the poorer sections are given benefits of welfare schemes like free dhotis and saris, sugar and rice, he said.
   
He was speaking at the concluding day of the two-day training programme for school teachers on `art of counselling` conducted by State Women`s Commission here. The proposal was welcomed by all those present.
  
Ohm Sakthi Segar MLA (AIADMK) who presided also welcomed the proposal and said the government should ensure that poor families of all castes and religions were covered under it. Kandasamy said money saved by restricting freebies could be used to help unemployed youth start self employment projects.
  
He said though Special Component Plan involving Rs283crore outlay was meant basically to help Scheduled Castes through various welfare measures, he was keen that all poorer sections be covered through this plan.
   
S Kamalini, Women`s commission chairperson, said 12 training programmes for school teachers on art of counseling had been held so far in Puducherry and Karaikal regions.