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MP funds can be used to buy vehicles for Swachh Bharat Mission

Kashmir Times. Dated: 3/19/2015 2:36:07 PM

NEW DELHI, Mar 18 (Agencies): Members of Parliament can recommend purchase of vehicles and equipments for sanitation works belonging to the Centre, state and local bodies under the MPLAD scheme, Parliament was informed today.
"The guidelines permit purchase of vehicles and equipments meant for sanitation purposes belonging to central, state/UT and local self governments," Statistics Minister V K Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
President Pranab Mukherjee in his address to the joint session of both the Houses on February 23 had appealed to all MPs to spend at least 50 per cent of their Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme for Swachh Bharat Mission.
The minister said contributions from MPLADS can be made to the Swachh Bharat Mission for the works that are eligible for implementation under the guidelines of the scheme.
MPLADS is for the development works and for creation of durable community assets. The recommendations/contributions by the MPs are voluntary as per the very nature of the scheme. The implementation of the scheme is governed by guidelines.
In a separate reply to the House, the minister said government has released Rs 35,656.25 crore since the inception of the MPLAD scheme in 1993-94 till February this year (2014-15).
According to minister's statement, 89.92 per cent of the funds released by the centre under MPLAD scheme till February this year was utilised by states/Union Territories across India.
In 1993-94, when the MPLAD scheme was launched, an amount of Rs 5 lakh per MP was allotted. This was made Rs 1 crore per MP per annum from 1994-95 and Rs 2 crore per MP per annum from 1998-99. The allocation was then increased to Rs 5 crore from 2011-12.
Under the MPLAD scheme, each MP has the choice of suggesting the District Collector about the works to be taken up in his or her constituency.
Rajya Sabha MPs can recommend works in one or more districts in the state from where they have been elected.
The nominated MPs of both the Houses may select one or more districts from state in the country for implementation of their choice of work under the scheme.