Lok Sabha Question No. 641 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Suspension of MPLADS
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, D.K. Suresh, Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 641

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## SUSPENSION OF  MPLADS

641.  ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI HIBI EDEN:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government is aware that dissolving of MPLAD funds  has  seriously  affected  the  developmental  activities  in  rural areas of the country;
- (b)  whether the Government has received representations from the  hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament  regarding  suspension  of  MPLADS for two years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure justice to the rural people of the country along with the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  reinstate  the MPLADS to ensure the decentralised development; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a)    The Government has not dissolved MPLADS funds (scheme). It has  suspended operations of the the Members of Parliament Local

Area  Development  Scheme  (MPLADS)  for  two  years,  that  is  during FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 . (b)  The Government has received references from Hon'ble Members of Parliament requesting for release of pending installments due to them as on 31.03.2020 to resume the ongoing works and clear the committed liabilities under MPLADS. (c)  Government  has  issued  detailed  instructions  vide  its  circular dated 08 th  April, 2020 wherein Hon'ble Members of Parliament have been requested to change the priority of their earlier recommendations, if feasible, so that the recommended work can be completed  within  the  funds  already  available  with  the  District Authority as no more funds will be released  during FY 2020-21 and 2021-22. The Ministry has issued another set of instructions dated 14.05.2020 to the Nodal  district  authorities  for  settlement  and  closure  of  savings  bank accounts of former MPs of Lok Sabha and former Members of Rajya Sabha, which  are  not  yet  closed  even  after  completion  of   21  months  from  the date of demitting office  so that unspent balance in their account can be used by the respective constituencies/ states where funds are required as per MPLADS guidelines.

(d)  and  (e)   Government  decided  not  to  operate  the  Members  of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years, that  is  during  FY  2020-21  and  FY  2021-22  and  placed  the  funds allocated for the FY2020-21 at the disposal of the Ministry of Finance for  strengthening  its  efforts  in  managing  the  challenges  of  COVID-19 COVID-19 which has been declared as a global pandemic and a notified disaster in the country.

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