MPLADS scheme misused, scrap it: VP Singh

Prime Minister VP Singh has said that a majority of the lawmakers in the country were "grossly misusing" the money given to them under the local area development scheme.

He also suggested that the scheme should be scrapped immediately to prevent further loss to the exchequer.

"Crores are being given to MPs and MLAs under the scheme and the money is being grossly misused by most of them. The scheme should be scrapped immediately and the money should be utilised for other meaningful purposes," he said.

"I cannot say that all of them are misusing it. There are some exceptions, but by and large the scheme is of no help for the uplift of poor in the country," he told a press conference.

Singh said that "MPs and MLAs are not supposed to build roads as it is the job of the executive" and demanded that the money be utilised for the welfare of women and poor and in the field of education.

On the raging office of profit controversy, Singh favoured a consensus to resolve the issue and praised Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for "setting a good precedent" by resigning as a Lok Sabha MP.

Singh said those lawmakers who are holding an office of profit, but do not draw any monetary benefit from it, should be exempted from the issue.

First Published: Mar 29, 2006 18:23 IST