MPLAD scheme is all pumped up, now at Rs 5 cr

New Delhi: Being a Member of Parliament (MP) now comes with a greater share of responsibilities. The long-held demand from MPs that their annual allocation for development works be scaled up, finally saw the light of day with the government’s approval on Thursday. The hike was as sharp as Rs 3 crore and the final figure read Rs 5 crore.

The decision to raise the quota for the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore for each MP from 2011-12, was taken at the meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.

The move would set the exchequer back by an additional Rs 2,370 crore annually, raising the total expenditure from Rs 1,580 crore to Rs 3,950 crore per annum. The hike has been made effective April 1 this year.

Soni said the move came in view of demands made by MPs in Parliament to step up the allocation. “This augmentation will result in better fulfilment of the needs of the people and creation of durable community assets based on locally-felt needs,” she said. This asset creation has been taking place in areas of national priority like drinking water, sanitation, education and public health."

Asked why was the hike felt necessary, she said the rise in prices was adversely affecting the scheme and the developmental projects. Responding to a question, she allayed apprehensions regarding corruption and said the MPs have themselves resolved that they would closely monitor implementation of the projects they have recommended and there were several monitoring

mechanisms at the state and local levels, besides the RTI Act.

(With inputs from PTI)