The Punjab government has made an important change to the eligibility process for the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar scheme after concerns emerged over applicants whose poverty scores were unavailable in official databases.

According to documents, the scheme received 271,015 applications. Poverty-score records were available for 210,777 applicants through the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER), while another 28,740 records were found in the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER).

This means poverty scores were available for 239,510 applicants, while 31,505 applicants had no score in either registry.

Field survey for landless applicants

The Board of Revenue has prepared a Personal Economic Assessment Form for applicants whose poverty scores are unavailable.

Under the proposed revised criteria, applicants with a poverty score of 32 or below in PSER or NSER would qualify. Applicants receiving 23 or fewer marks in the field survey have also been proposed as eligible.

The change is aimed at ensuring deserving landless people are not excluded simply because their information is missing from government databases.

Verification process strengthened

The Finance Department had raised concerns about transparency and monitoring of the personal economic assessment process. It also asked authorities to clearly define the survey authority and verification mechanism.

Field teams working under the supervision of deputy commissioners completed surveys of applicants, while their information was verified at the district level.

The Board of Revenue said the assessment form was prepared in consultation with the Punjab Social Protection Authority and Punjab Land Records Authority. The Finance Department subsequently endorsed the proposed amendment.

The scheme aims to provide landless rural families with access to agricultural land and improve their livelihood opportunities.