Himachal CM orders fourth phase of BPL survey to begin from February 1

The chief minister stated that families eligible for inclusion in the BPL list include orphans up to the age of 27 years, households with members above the age of 59 years, and families with members with disabilities aged between 27 and 59 years.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday directed the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department to begin the fourth phase of the Below Poverty Line identification survey from February 1, 2026. Chairing a meeting of the department, Sukhu emphasised that the state government was committed to ensuring that every eligible family was included in the BPL list so they could benefit from various government welfare schemes. ''The survey is being conducted in five phases to ensure that no deserving poor family is deprived of its rightful entitlements,'' he added. In the first three phases of the survey, a total of 59,829 BPL families have been included in the BPL list across the state. District-wise, 2,204 families have been identified in Bilaspur, 13,786 in Chamba, 3,480 in Hamirpur, 10,807 in Kangra, 1,109 in Kinnaur, 2,957 in Kullu, 206 in Lahaul-Spiti, 12,045 in Mandi, 4,522 in Shimla, 1,277 in Sirmaur, 1,567 in Solan, and 5,869 families in Una district. The chief minister stated that families eligible for inclusion in the BPL list include orphans up to the age of 27 years, households with members above the age of 59 years, and families with members with disabilities aged between 27 and 59 years. ''Additionally, families headed by women with no adult male members between 27 and 59 years of age, as well as families where the head of the household has a disability of 50 per cent or more, are also to be covered under BPL,'' he added. Sukhu further mentioned that families who worked for at least 100 days under MGNREGA during the previous financial year will be considered eligible. Households with earning members suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, haemophilia, or any other condition resulting in permanent disability will also be included. The government has also decided to include families living in concrete houses who have received financial assistance under state or central housing schemes.