The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills has informed that no new Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries can be included in the Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) for food rations until the overdue socio-economic and caste census is carried out.
The DC in a notification today said that several requests have been made to include new members of existing BPL families as well as new beneficiaries.
Allocation of foodgrains under the ration scheme from the central government is based on the census of 2011; the latest census is now two years overdue (at first because of the Covid-19 pandemic) and will not be held before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Thus, the DC said that until the new census list is prepared, new PDS beneficiaries “will not be possible”.
