NO NEED TO REVIVE MPLAD SCHEME FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS

Bureau,Odishbarta

Delhi:It refers to Parliamentarians demanding restoration of MPLAD scheme whereby every Parliamentarian has discretion to recommend rupees five crores per annum for public-utility. MPLAD scheme was suspended to meet fiscal-needs arising out of corona-crisis. Rather the scheme should be permanently abolished.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament and Planning Commission termed MPLADS useless and corruption-generating. A TV-sting caught Parliamentarians taking bribe to approve schemes to be funded through MPLADS. The then Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chaterjee had echoed likewise to scrap the scheme. Many MPs and MLAs are over-generous to fund their favourite organisations from this scheme even though such funding may have nothing to do with public-welfare. It may be recalled that trusts floated by the then Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla were generously funded by Parliamentarians cutting across party-lines from MPLADS. Already Bihar government has abolished such a scheme in the state. All such suggested reforms should be implemented both at the centre and in states.

Input;Ms.Madhu