UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus: GS-2-  Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a programme first launched during the Narasimha Rao Government in 1993, aimed towards providing funds for developmental works recommended by individual MPs.

The MPs were entitled to recommend works to the tune of Rs 1 crore annually between 1994-95 and 1997-98, after which the annual entitlement was enhanced to Rs 2 crore.

The UPA government in 2011-12 raised the annual entitlement to Rs 5 crore per MP.

What is done under it:

The guidelines recommend MPs to suggest works costing at least 15 per cent of their MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by ST population.

Arguments for MPLADS:

Arguments against:

It is suffering from the following issues,

  1. Use of lesser quantities of material than specified by contractors resulting inexcess payments and substandard works
  2. No accountability  for the expenditure in terms of thequality and quantities executed against specifications.
  3. Register of assetscreated, as required under the scheme, not maintained, therefore location and existence of assets could not be verified.

What is needed:

Source:” The Hindu“.

POSSIBLE UPSC CSE MAINS QUESTION:

The MPLADS fund has been suspended considering the COVID – 19 pandemic. In this scenario, critically examine the pros and cons of the scheme.