For trusts and societies, MPs seek unlimited MPLAD funds

When it comes to spending money for development our MPs want no restrictions. Members of Parliament have asked for curbs on their local area development (MPLAD) scheme to be lifted. Chetan Chauhan reports.

When it comes to spending money for development our MPs want no restrictions. Members of Parliament have asked for curbs on their local area development (MPLAD) scheme to be lifted.

HT Image

Not stopping there, the MPs also want a change in the "conflict of interest" ambit by redefining their family so that social organizations run, or managed by their kin could also take the benefit of these funds.

The MPs get Rs 5 crore annually under the scheme, but they are unhappy with the ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for limiting sanction of maximum of Rs 1 crore from the fund for building assets in societies and trusts in a year. The condition was imposed earlier this year.

"The trusts and societies which are providing true service to the poor and the needy may be allowed to use MPLADS over and above the ceiling fixed by the ministry," a parliamentary panel on MPLADs said in its latest report.

The MPs say that the district authority - the project implementation body under MPLADs - should be responsible for checking credentials of these organisations.

The MPs also took umbrage at the ministry refusing to accept suggestion of an earlier Parliamentary committee to redefine family of an MP.

This was with respect to restrictions in MPLAD guidelines on allowing funding from MPLAD to trusts and societies, whose members are either from MPs family or are close relatives.

The panel had said in-laws of an MP or their family members should not be included in the definition of the family. "The existing definition of the family is inclusive and is necessary to save criticism of the scheme," the ministry said, in a submission to the panel while rejecting the committee's suggestion.