Lok Sabha Question No. 271 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Scrapped MPLAD
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 271

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## SCRAPPED MPLAD

271. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has scrapped MPLAD in the entire country including Rajasthan after the Corona pandemic;
- (b) if so, the action plan by the Government for the budget approved by the various MPs in their area or the works completed so far;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that even the budget of 16 th  Lok Sabha has not been approved by the Government of India in various Lok Sabha constituencies; and
- (d) if so, the time by when the Government is considering to approve this budget along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER OF

OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY PLANNING (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) Government has 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  decided  to place the MPLADS funds FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 at the disposal

of the Ministry of Finance for strengthening its efforts in managing the  challenges  of  COVID-19  which  has  been  declared  as  a  global pandemic and a notified disaster in the country. (b) The Ministry has issued detailed circular on 08.04.2020 containing  instructions  wherein  inter  alia  Hon'ble  Members  have been requested to re-prioritize their recommendations in consultation with District Authorities, wherever feasible, and District Authorities have also been advised to ensure that works are completed from among the available funds as no more funds would 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  so that unspent balance in their account can be used by the respective constituencies/  states  where  funds  are  required  as  per  MPLADS guidelines. (c)  and  (d)  Government  is  aware  that  MPLADS  instalments   of  16 th Lok  Sabha  pertaining  to  some  constituencies  are  pending  for release; due to non-fulfilment of eligibility criteria and nonsubmission  of  requisite  documents.  However,  the  Ministry  has released the instalments of 16th Lok Sabha till the end of FY 201920, to those Nodal Districts which fulfilled the eligibility criteria and submitted the requisite documents necessary for release of instalments. Since, the Government has decided not to operate MPLADS for two years,  that  is,  during  FY  2020-21  and  FY  2021-22  and  decided  to place the funds for FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 at the disposal of the Ministry  of  Finance  for  strengthening  its  efforts  in  managing  the challenges  of  COVID  19,  there  shall  be  no  release  of  installments during  FY  2020-21  and  FY  2021-22  including  installments  pending upto 31.03.2020.

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