LS members’ MPLADS funds for 2018-19 not yet allocated

NAINITAL: An RTI query filed by a Kashipur-based activist has revealed data which indicates that none of the Lok Sabha members have yet been allocated the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for the financial year 2018-19.
The activist, Nadimuddin, had filed the RTI query on October 5 asking for status of release and utilisation of MPLADs funds from the union ministry of statistics and programme implementation.The ministry is responsible for administering the scheme and allocates the funds of Rs 5 crore per year to an MP and disburses the money to the respective district authority directly for carrying out the works recommended by the MP. The activist said in response to his query, he received a letter from the ministry dated October 25 in which it was mentioned that the details sought by him were in the public domain and could be accessed on the website www.mplads.gov.in. “On accessing the website, I found that till September 4 this year, no funds were allocated to any of the 545 MPs. The website still shows the same data,” claimed Nadimuddin.
He added that “the funds are disbursed conditionally in two instalments every year only after the records of expenditure of previously allocated funds are received by the ministry.” “In almost all the cases, the reason for non-release of payment was cited as ‘monthly progress report not received.’ This report is prepared by the district authorities. As per provisions, unless 80% of the funds allocated are shown as having been utilised, the next instalment is not released,” said Nadimuddin. He added that “the non-preparation of reports detailing the extent of utilisation of funds shows that authorities are not serious about implementation of the schemes and this, in turn, is affecting the further release of funds.”
The data on status of MPLADs funds also indicated that since financial year 2014-15, only 209 out of the 545 MPs had been allocated the full eight instalments till financial year 2017-18. 153 MPs had been allocated seven instalments, 79 MPs six instalments, 73 MPs five instalments and 22 MPs four instalments. Three instalments had been allocated to six MPs while two MPs had got just only instalments and one MP had received only one instalment in his entire term.
The data also revealed the ranking of the states in terms of fund allocations to MPs. MPs from Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram had almost 80% fund allocation, followed by Chhattisgarh and Punjab with 77%, Haryana and MP with 76% and Tamil Nadu with 74%. MPs from Delhi had only 39% fund allocation.