BPL Full Form

BPL full form is Below Poverty Line and it refers to the economic standard for identifying people with low income. Governments have set certain parameters to differentiate between those unable to fulfill basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter and those who can afford basic necessities of life. If we go as per data then we will discover in India almost 25 to 30 per cent of the total population comprises BPL. 

What is BPL Full Form?

As discussed above BPL full form is Below Poverty Line and is a benchmark used by the government to define people living in abject poverty. The government offers assistance to the BPLs through various schemes and programs. The parameters or methodology adopted by the Union cabinet for ensuring low-income groups is by setting an income limit. For eg, if a household income annually is Rs 24000 then it comes under the poverty line, and those earning above it are defaced as Above Poverty Line or APL. 

The standard followed by the government to identify poverty-stricken people uses data from 2002. Under the BPL category, some subcategories also exist like extreme poverty, abject poverty, absolute poverty and destitute. To help you understand the BPL category, our article will offer insight into the parameters used to define BPLs, govt schemes for poverty-stricken people and also benefits offered to these people.

Overview of BPL

A Quick Overview of the BPL Category in India

The government undertakes a survey of the total population, and based on certain parameters categorizes people into different income groups. In case they find a person earning 27000 annually, they will be taken as below poverty line (BPL full form). As per a survey, almost 12.4% of  Indians live in extreme poverty whereby they earn less than Rs 150 daily. While segregating people on income, general parameters like the ability to meet basic needs like food are taken into account. Factors like education and health care are not included in the parameter. 

The maximum per capita income is taken for every family of five members, and if they earn almost Rs 447 in rural and Rs 2250 in urban, that's the threshold for non-poor people. Well, criteria adopted for identifying poverty-stricken folks might vary as per state. 

History of BPL in India

The origin of the BPL category can be traced back to 1962 when the working group of the planning commission determined a fixed expenditure necessary for living to be Rs 20 per person in rural areas while it is Rs 25 in urban places. Education and health costs were excluded from this monetary limit as the government was responsible for providing it to the general public. 

The provision underwent a review in 1970 when the parameter for categorising BPL from APL was based on per capita consumption in urban and rural areas. According to new criteria, if daily calorie consumption is within 2100 per day in rural and 2400 per day in urban areas with a daily income of Rs 49.1 and Rs 56.7 respectively will be considered below the poverty margins. 

With the advent of 1993, poverty identification came to vary based on state. Each state had a separate parameter for determining BPLs. Generally, CPI agricultural and industrial workers were taken into account. Again estimation of poverty was updated; rural people with an income of Rs 972 and urban's having an income of Rs 1407 were categories under BPL. 

Differentiating Between the APL and BPL 

Perhaps, a major difference between APL and BPL is the former can fulfill basic needs, while the latter requires government aid to survive. Basically, eligibility criteria are perfectly reflected in the ration card issued by the government. Below we have contrasted an APL ration card and a BPL one.

Eligibility criteria for BPL Ration Card:

• A family is eligible to get a BPL ration from the government if the family does not possess any four-wheeler vehicle.
• The household should not have a telephone.
• The annual income of the family should be 27000 per year.
• The family should not own even half a hectare of land.

Eligibility criteria for APL ration Card:

• Family should have an annual income higher than 27000 and lower than 1 lakh.
• They should not own land of more than four hectares.
• Any member of the family should not possess any light or four-wheeler vehicle.

How Does the Indian Government Categorize BPL?

The government identifies poor income people who can’t even afford food by taking into account some well-defined parameters that are explained below:

• Food security: Food is regarded as the most essential requirement for human survival. Basically, if a household is deprived of adequate food supply due to which they face malnutrition, it comes under the BPL category.
• House type: This is perhaps another vital criterion used to categorize low-income groups in India. There are two types of houses that include the kutcha house and the Pakka house. A family who owns the Kutha house type is considered poor.
• Infant status: Any household that has more children with poor health and are suffering from malnutrition is also categorized below the poverty line. 
• Sanitation: besides food and clothing, sanitation is regarded as another necessity of our life. Those who don’t have a bathroom in their house come under the BPL group.
• Clothing: We are aware that to lead a quality life, we need three basic things that include food, clothes and shelter. In case a daily is deprived of proper clothing to cover themselves in chilly winters or hot summers is also defined as a BPL.

Does the Government Offer BPL Cards?

The government issues BPL cards to families living in extreme poverty to help them fulfill their basic needs. Well, before issuing this card, an individual has to offer adequate proof of their income status. Below are some of the advantages of getting a BPL card.

• By owning a BPL card, those living in abject poverty can get adequate help from the government in fulfilling monetary and non-monetary benefits. 
• A BPL card holder can get a special reservation in the educational sector and government jobs. The government empowers the economically deprived section of the country by issuing this card.
• Be it food subsidies or getting employment in the government sector, a BPL card can open new opportunities to poor people and offer them a chance to improve their economic status. 

What are the Benefits of BPL Ration Cards?

BPL, the full form of which is below the poverty line, are offered ration cards from the government so that they could get subsidies on basic amenities like food. Well, a common criterion is adopted when providing ration cards to poor people. As per government rules, people with an annual income of Rs 15000 are eligible to get around 25 to 30 kgs of food grain at a subsidised price.

Some of the other benefits reaped from ration card include the following:

• Education Aid

Students hailing from poor families can get benefits from the BPL ration cards issued by the government. Some of the advantages include scholarships, lower school fees, reservations in top educational institutes and financial assistance for higher studies.

• Medical Facilities

Under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi scheme, ration card holders can seek medical assistance. With BPL cards, individuals can get medical coverage within Rs 2 lakhs; however, it has been recently increased to Rs 5 lakhs.

• Loan

The government to offer financial help to poor people initiated loan schemes like Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar, Swarna Jayanthi Shahri Rozgar Yojana etc. BPL cardholders can avail up to Rs 50,000 loan. 

Top Government Schemes to Help BPL

The government of India takes initiatives from time to time to help the BPLs whose full form is below the poverty line to empower their financial condition. Here are a few of the schemes enforced by the government to empower poverty-stricken people. 

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna

It was introduced in 2008 to provide health insurance to BPL. This scheme benefits the street vendors, auto drivers and mine workers' medical facilities, and offers up to 30,000 on a floater basis to a family of 5 members.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna

PMJDY is perhaps the most popular investment scheme introduced by the government to support BPLs. With this scheme, poor people can open zero-balance bank accounts and get access to services like insurance, pension, and also get credits.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched this noble scheme under the campaign “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao '' in 2015. Under this scheme, a girl child can open a savings account for education and other expenses like marriage.