Government saved Rs 6,320 crore from temporary suspension of MPLADS: Minister

The government has saved Rs 6,320 crore from temporary suspension of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for one-and-a-half year, minister of state for planning Rao Inderjit Singh said.

“The funds saved from the MPLAD Scheme have been utilized to enhance the allocation of funds for improving health infrastructure, provide free ration under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana and free vaccination,” the minister said in response to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to the minister’s response, the union cabinet, in its meeting held on April 6, 2020, decided not to operate the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two financial years 2020-21 & 2021-22 and to place annual budgetary outlay for the two years at the disposal of the ministry of finance for managing the adverse impacts of covid19 pandemic.


“However, the cabinet in its meeting held on November 10, 2021 has, inter-alia, approved the restoration of MPLADS during the remaining part of the Financial Year 2021- 22 with release of MPLADS fund at the rate of Rs 2 crore per member of Parliament in one installment,” minister Singh said

“Further, it has approved continuation of MPLADS up to 2025-26 with the annual entitlement per member of parliament (MP) at Rs 5 crore,” he added.