lannin in ndia 5.29
Minister’s Office, had advised to wrap it up as it comprehensively revised and issued in November
has outlived its utility. While the PMO decided 2005. Its performance has improved due to pro-
to ‘restructure’ it on the recommendations of active policy initiatives, focus monitoring and
the Inter-Ministerial Group, which is presently review.87
working on it. It should be noted that the In recent years, many criticisms of the scheme
Government has restructured the existing 50 came to the public notice, which concerned either
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) into 30 misappropriation of the funds or non-use of the
under the active participation of the Governing funds, especially from the backward states. The
Council of the NITI Aayog.
people’s representative at the PRI level have been
c. MpLAdS demanding scrapping of the scheme as it infringes
the idea of decentralised planning. In it’s place,
The Member of Parliament Local Area they want the funds to be given to the local bodies
Development Scheme (MPLADS) is the last of directly for the same kind of works specified by
the Central Plans and latest to have been launched,
the MPLADS.88
too. The scheme was launched on December 23,
1993 with only Rs. 5 lakh given to each MPs In May 2014, MOSPI issued the revised
which was increased to Rs. 1 crore in the year guidelines for the scheme which is simple, clear
1994–95. When the MPs did put a demand to and understandable to all concerned. The fine
increase the sum to Rs. 5 crore in 1997–98, finally points of the guidelines are as given below:
the government enhanced it to Rs. 2 crore since It provides not only the list of prohibited
1998–99. In April 2011 the corpus was enhanced items under the scheme, but also that of
to Rs. 5 crore while announcing the new guidelines permissible items.
for the scheme. In order to encourage trusts and societies to
Basically, in the early 1990s there came work for the betterment of tribal people,
a demand from the MPs cutting across party the ceiling of Rs. 50 lakh, stipulated for
lines for such a scheme so that the fruits of building assets by trusts and societies
development could directly reach the masses in areas occupied by tribals, has been
via their representatives. The government of the enhanced to Rs. 75 lakh.
time decided to go in for such a scheme and the Further, to promote cooperative
MPLADS came.
movement and rural development, the
Under this scheme the Members of Cooperative Societies have also been
Parliament86 recommend some works (i.e., made eligible under the MPLAD Scheme.
creation of fixed community assets, based
The abandoned or suspended MPLAD
on locally felt developmental needs) to the
work to be completed by the states.
concerned District Magistrate. The scheme is
governed by a set of guidelines, which have been Natural and man-made calamities can
also be allocated funds under it.
86. For development works the MP, Lower House (the
Lok Sabha) may select one or more districts of his/her 87. As the Government reports in Publications Division, India
constituency; the MP, Upper House (the Rajya Sabha) 2007, pp. 711–12.
may select any one or more districts from his/her 88. We may especially quote the ‘21 Point Memorandum’
constituency (i.e., a state or an UT); and the nominated handed over by the All India Panchayat Adhyakshas
MPs may select any one or more districts from their Meet, mid-2002, N. Delhi to the President and the Central
constituency (i.e., the whole country). Government of the time.