New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today slammed the Centre and the Planning Commission over the fixing of criteria for Below Poverty Line (BPL) population.
The court also directed the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission to file its affidavit within a week on the contradictions in fixing BPL criteria.
Court told Centre, "You can't have two India. What is the stark contraction in the approach in eradication of malnutrition? You say you are a powerful country, but at the same time starvation deaths are taking place in various parts of the country. It must be totally eliminated. Reports say you have a bumper crop. Godowns are full. It is a happy situation. But if people don't get the benefit, what is the use. When you have godowns full...people are starving."
Taking on the Planning Commission, the court said, "Malnutrition is increasing. It is astonishing that you fix 36 % of the population under BPL. In 2011, you rely on 1991 census. Several states including Congress-ruled states filed affidavits disputing Planning Commission claims. They say BPL population is more and they follow Planning Commission guidelines. You have fixed RS 20 for urban areas and Rs 11 for rural areas as criteria. How can you justify the fixation on this meager amount? Even in rural areas this amount is not enough. Planning commission must explain."
The court observations were made during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation on public distribution system (PDS).