Bar NGOs, private institutions from MPLAD scheme: Committee

New Delhi, Mar 14: The Parliament Committee, which today (Mar 14, 2006) recommended a three-month suspension of four Lok Sabha MPs for alleged corruption in the MPs Local Area Development (MPLADS) scheme, wants NGOs and private institutions to be barred from getting any funds under the scheme.

Most of the NGOs ''are merely facades for unscrupulous organisations formed to usurp funds from MPLADS which are meant for community development works,'' the seven-member committee, headed by Mr V Kishore Chandra S Deo, said in its 51-page report tabled in the Lok Sabha.

''The committee feel that is about time the Union Government revises the guidelines governing the MPLADS to plug various loopholes and lacunae to make it truly effective,'' the report said.

Under the scheme, Rs two crore a year is placed at the disposal of each MP in both Houses of Parliament for carrying out development works particularly in their respective constituencies.

Keeping in view the ''aberrations in execution and implementation'' of MPLAD scheme as also its various ''lacunae that have come to light,'' the Committee felt that it was about time the Union Government revised the guidelines to make it truly effective.

UNI

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