New Delhi, Jul 23,2021: The Centre on Thursday said that there is no proposal for restoration of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) which had been suspended last year in the wake of pressure on government finances due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its meeting held on 6th April, 2020 decided not to operate MPLADS for two years — FY21 and FY22. The funds under the scheme were left at the disposal of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
“The funds saved from the MPLAD Scheme and cuts from MP’s salary have been utilized to enhance the allocation of funds for improving health infrastructure, provide free ration under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, and free vaccination,” said the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
“At present, there is no such proposal for restoration of MPLADS,” he added.
Apart from suspending the MPLADS, the salaries of MPs had also been cut last year by passing “The Salary Allowances and pension of Members of Parliament Amendment Bill of 2020″ to meet the exigencies arising out of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
