Conduct independent survey on BPL families, SC tells Centre

Conduct independent survey on BPL families, SC tells Centre

With states complaining of inadequate supply of foodgrains for public distribution system, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to examine at the highest level the idea of conducting an independent nation-wide survey to identify below poverty line and Antodaya Anna Yojna families.

A Bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma said the Centre should try to allocate foodgrains to the poor on a "realistic basis" by relying on the latest poverty figures instead of depending on decades-old figures.

"When there is so much difference in the figures presented by states and the Centre and when you do not support their figures, why don't you conduct an independent survey to arrive at a realistic survey. You take up the issue at the highest level".

"You (Centre) are citing the BPL/AAY figures of 2000. Why don't you take up the 2010 figures and arrive at a more realistic assessment? We do not want the grains to be given to the very affluent. It should not be given at the cost of the hungry poor," the Bench told Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran.

The apex court made the remarks while dealing with a public interest litigation moved by Peoples Union for Civil Liberties's(PUCL) complaining about largescale corruption in the country's public distribution system (PDS) and rotting of food grains in government godowns.

The Bench also appreciated the affidavit filed by the Kerala government even as states complained that the central allocation for PDS distribution was grossly inadequate.