Inclusion, exclusion categories to replace BPL, APL labels

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs has suggested that food entitlements under the National Food Security Act be made available to 67 per cent of the population, leaving out the 33 per cent who pay taxes, have a pucca house and so on. It wants the ‘priority’ (Below Poverty Line) and ‘general’ (Above Poverty Line) categories to go and be replaced with “inclusion” and “exclusion” categories.

The identification of beneficiaries for subsidised rice and wheat under the Public Distribution System will be done by State governments.