Lok Sabha Question No. 128 (STARRED), answered on 2021-07-28
Subject: Restoration of MPLADS Fund
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *128

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

## RESTORATION OF MPLADS FUND

*128.  SHRIMATI  HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  relaxed  the  conditions  of  MPLAD Scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  in  this  pandemic  when lakhs of people are dying, there is an emergent need to help people and Members of Parliament are not able to help these people because Government has frozen the MPLADS fund for two years, i.e., 2020 and 2021;
- (c) whether the Government in view of the emergency situation in the country, will restore the frozen funds; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  also  plans  to  increase  the  MPLADS allocation from Rs.5 crore to Rs.10 crore?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to (d) A statement is laid down on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *128  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON 28 th  JULY 2021

- (a)      The  Members  of  Parliament  Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is governed by a set of guidelines, which are revised from time to time based on the needs of the community with emphasis on creation  of  durable  assets.  During  the  covid-19  pandemic,  the Government  allowed  purchase  of  testing,  screening  and  other facilities  including  installation  of  Oxygen  plants  in  Government hospitals and dispensaries under MPLADS, by relaxing the guidelines. The extant MPLADS guidelines was last issued by the Ministry in June 2016. Subsequent changes made in the guidelines are at Annexure I.
- (b)    The Government is aware that there has been an emergent need to  help  people  in  this  pandemic.  Accordingly,  the  Cabinet  in  its meeting held on 6 th  April, 2020 decided not to operate MPLADS for the Financial  Years  2020-21  and  2021-22;  and  place  the  MPLADS funds for these two-years at the disposal of Ministry of Finance to meet  the  emergent  needs  of  people. The  funds  saved  from  the MPLAD  Scheme  have  been  utilized  to  enhance  the  allocation  of funds for improving health infrastructure, provide free ration under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, and free vaccination for the people.

However, on requests made  by Members  of Parliament, the Government released Rs. 1107.5 crore against the pending instalments of 2019-20 and previous years in 2020-21 to clear the committed  liabilities  and  help  the  people  during  the  covid-19 pandemic. The Government has also decided to release all pending instalments of 2019-20 in respect of Members of Parliament of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during 2021-22, subject to the fulfilment of eligibility  criteria  and  submission  of  eligible  documents  by  district Authorities, as per the MPLADS guidelines.

- (c)  &  (d)     There  are  no  proposals  under  consideration  of  the Government  for restoration of MPLADS funds for the Financial Years 2020-21 and 2021-22 and to increase  the  MPLADS  allocation  from Rs.5 crore to Rs.10 crore.

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## Annexure-I

## INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  No. *128 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

|   S. No. | Subject                                                                                                                                                                               | Date of issue         |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|        1 | Utilization of MPLADS funds for persons with disabilities                                                                                                                             | 05 th September, 2016 |
|        2 | Inclusion of Gramin Banks / Regional Rural Banks in the Guidelines on MPLADS                                                                                                          | 07 th September, 2016 |
|        3 | Release and Management of MPLADS funds in respect of Rajya Sabha MPs re-elected without break                                                                                         | 07 th September, 2016 |
|        4 | Financial assistance to be provided under MPLADStodifferently abled persons with disabilities                                                                                         | 06 th October, 2016   |
|        5 | Submission of Utilization Certificate and Audit Certificate for release of 02nd instalment of MPLADS funds                                                                            | 02 nd November, 2016  |
|        6 | Installation of fixed Wi-Fi system in educational institutions, villages and selected locations                                                                                       | 28 th November, 2016  |
|        7 | Provision of Solar Lighting Systems                                                                                                                                                   | 20 th December, 2016  |
|        8 | Release of MPLADS funds                                                                                                                                                               | 29 th December, 2016  |
|        9 | Equipment for Skill Development and Training                                                                                                                                          | 16 th February, 2017  |
|       10 | Selection of the Implementing Agency                                                                                                                                                  | 23 rd February, 2017  |
|       11 | Release of MPLADS funds                                                                                                                                                               | 28 th August, 2017    |
|       12 | Utilization of MPLADS funds for SC/ST inhabited areas                                                                                                                                 | 18 th September, 2017 |
|       13 | Allocation of MPLADS funds for the works of Trusts/ Societies                                                                                                                         | 25 th September, 2017 |
|       14 | Clarification on One MP-One Idea Scheme under MPLAD Scheme                                                                                                                            | 01 st December, 2017  |
|       15 | All Implementing Agencies will carry out expenditure using PFMS-EAT module with immediate effect                                                                                      | 03 rd January, 2018   |
|       16 | Utilization of Administrative Expenses under MPLADS                                                                                                                                   | 08 th April, 2018     |
|       17 | Contribution for rehabilitation works in state of Kerala                                                                                                                              | 18 th September 2018  |
|       18 | Revised Procedure for taking up rehabilitation and reconstruction works in areas affected by severe calamity under MPLADS                                                             | 26 th October, 2018   |
|       19 | Admissibility of laptop as an eligible item under MPLADS                                                                                                                              | 25 th February, 2019  |
|       20 | Release of balance of MPLADSfunds left by the predecessorMP in a Lok Sabha Constituency (Fund not committed for works of the predecessor MP)                                          | 12 th March 2020      |
|       21 | One-time dispensation under MPLADS for purchase of testing, screening and other facilities in connection with COVID-19                                                                | 24 th March 2020      |
|       22 | Non-operation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years (2020-21 & 2021-22) for managing the health and adverse impact of COVID- 19 on the society | 08 th April 2020      |

|   23. | Purchase of Stubble Clearing and Super Seeder Machines under MPLADS                                                                                                                                                                                      | 19 th October 2020   |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
|    24 | Extension of one time dispensation under MPLADS for purchase of testing, screening and other facilities and setting up of independent oxygen manufacturing plants in Government Hospitals/Dispensaries as a one-time measure in connection with COVID-19 | 30 th April 2021     |
|    25 | Release of pending instalments of FY 2019-20 under MPLADS                                                                                                                                                                                                | 02 nd June 2021      |

Note: the above circulars/ amendments may be accessed at www.mplads.gov.in

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