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Title: Regarding alleviation of poverty.
DR. KAKOLI GHOSH DASTIDAR (BARASAT): Madam Speaker, I want to speak regarding the BPL list of West Bengal. Alleviation of poverty and amelioration of severe hunger were serious subjects that have been decided upon during the Millennium Development Goals signature, in which leaders of our great nation along with 146 leaders of different countries had signed. These two were taken to be serious points. Today, it is with the Tendulkar Committee. The whole country is looking forward to the Report of this Committee.
We are trying to find out what the Government is trying to do regarding the poor people of the nation, in which hunger is rampant and starvation deaths are occurring in different parts, particularly after the insufficient rainfall and crop failure. The farmers have been committing suicide throughout the nation.
With respect to West Bengal from where I come, the BPL list is completely erroneous. The Government there, including the panchayats, are not working upto the standard. There should be a national registry in which it should be maintained how the BPL list is being formed in the State of West Bengal and other states. The poor people of West Bengal are suffering so much. They are not getting the quota of vegetables, pulses, cereals, and grains which they are supposed to get through different schemes that have been approved by the Central Government.
So, I wish to draw your kind attention, and through you, the attention of the Minister and the Ministry concerned, and the Government of India that there should be accountability placed on the State of West Bengal so that the BPL list is corrected, and the poor people of West Bengal get a chance to live a normal life and not suffer from severe hunger that they are undergoing today. Thank you.