Don’t humiliate the poor further

The idea of branding homes is insulting and undemocratic

It betrays a staggering lack of imagination and insensitivity that the Rajasthan government could think of no better way than to paint ‘I am poor’ or ‘I am extremely poor’ outside the homes of BPL families as a prerequisite to them availing of subsidised foodgrain. This has been done ostensibly to separate them from well-to-do families. There could have been better ways to differentiate the better-off from the poor than this humiliating exercise in order to give eligible people what is their entitlement.

The Vasundhara Raje government has not covered itself in glory in recent times with the lynchings in the state and this adds to its ignominy. The state government surely has a more refined and humane way of identifying those eligible for subsidised grain. What this shows is a complete disconnect from the people and disregard for their sentiments. The poor do not need their noses rubbed in the dirt about their status. This is not the first time the Rajasthan government has done this. Last year, it thought it fit to paint yellow patches on BPL homes in Bhilwara to which it added the beneficiary’s name and identification number. Madhya Pradesh had done something similar on BPL homes in 2012. The government seems to think that the poor will be grateful to receive its largesse even if it means this is at the cost of their self-respect. This idea of branding homes is undemocratic and insulting.

Other state governments too have displayed insensitivity to the underprivileged. In tribal areas, it is not unknown for district officials to withhold money people are entitled to under social schemes on the grounds that it would be squandered on drink. Writing a person’s economic status on his walls could discourage people from availing of benefits from sheer embarrassment. This is a violation of human rights. The Centre should tell the state government in no uncertain terms that this is unacceptable in a civilised society. Those who came up with the idea should be penalised. If an identification number can be painted on a wall, surely it is there in the records as proof of economic status. Then it is inexplicable why this uniquely cruel practice was instituted.