MPLADS will stay, but under greater scrutiny: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 9: Seeking to address Rajya Sabha members' concerns over the MPs Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), the Government today (Mar 9, 2006) categorically stated that there was no proposal to scrap it, but said the scheme will be subject to greater srutiny.

''The Government is constantly revising guidelines to check corruption in the use of MPLADS funds,'' Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G K Vasan said when some members in the House expressed concern that the funds meant for development of parliamentary constituencies were being misutilised.

When a member wanted to know if there was any proposal to scrap the scheme, the Minister replied in the negative.

There was also no legislation proposed to regulate the funds given to the MPs as such scheme are not generally brought under enactment, but guidelines will be revised to ensure that funds were utilised meaningfully, Mr Vasan said replying to supplementaries in the House.

When a member said MPLADS funds should not be allowed to be given to private hospitals, schools and NGOs etc, but should be distributed through State Governments, the Minister said under the revised guidelines, MPs have been asked to give priority to projects relating to drinking water, education, health and so on.

CPI(M) member Brinda Karat's demand for scrapping of the scheme as ''it was a great source of corruption'' met with strong opposition from some members, especially those of the BJP, and led to some heated exchanges and uproar in the House, during which the chair announced the end of question hour.

UNI