The union government has suspended MPLADS for 2 years. Discuss why this move was taken and why MPLADS must go completely?
There is a wide scale opposition of the government’s recent move to suspend the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two years.
The government’s reason is to use these funds to strengthen the government’s efforts in managing the challenges and adverse impact of COVID-19 in the country.
There are four reasons why the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme must be abolished
First, the scheme violates one of the cardinal principles, separation of powers.
Simply put, this scheme, in effect, gives an executive function to legislators.
The argument that MPs only recommend projects, but the final choice and implementation rests with the district authorities is strange; there are hardly any authorities in the district who have the courage or the gumption to defy the wishes of an MP.
Second, expenditure incurred by the executing agencies being less than the amount booked. Utilisation of funds between 49 to 90% of the booked amount. The implementation of the scheme is marked by various shortcomings and lapses.
Third, there are wide variations in the utilisation of the MPLAD amount in various constituencies. Most MPs use money under MPLADS quite haphazardly, and a significant portion of it is left unspent.
Fourth, money under MPLADS being used to appease or oblige two sets of people: opinion-makers or opinion-influencers, and favourite contractors.
