Debate on MPs’ rights over MPLADS Funds & Utilisation

Should MPs be allowed to spend from MPLADS Funds without political interference and bureaucratic hurdles?

Your Views Here…

Sambit Nanda: They are fully free to make their choice in how to spend their LAD funds. The duty of govt officers are to take care of the guidelines only while implementing the projects.

Suvendu Mohapatra: They could and have to. The funds will never reach the people unless those are spent judiciously. But, for that visionary leadership is also required. For example, Modi ji, who recently asked the MPs to share report card and reviews the performance in regular intervals.

Singh Vijaya: Of course. It’s people’s money, to be spent for the people. MPLAD funds not for party’s benefits.

Chakradhar Sarangi: Yes, once elected, public money must be spent as per public necessity, not as per party necessity.

Barendra Kumar: of course….for Public….Where is question of spending it for party people….??? Is it mentioned anywhere…?? Might be a practice….Somewhere or even everywhere… But .the benchmark or the guideline is very much clear…and undisputed.

How the preventive measures can be taken to see that MPLADs are spent for Public….and NOT ONLY FOR party people?

Bhabani Shankar Hota: From the beginning I am opposed to MPLAD fund and strongly believe that it should be scrapped forthwith. Long back I had written three articles on same issue giving examples which were published in three reputed English Dailies published from Nagpur, Jammu & Kashmir and one reputed journal World Focus. My point of contention was the MPLAD fund was part of the package to blunt the resistance to New Economic Policy(NEP) by the Members of Parliament who were broadly opposed to NEP initially.

It has resulted in depoliticisation of the polity in so far as the basic job of Parliamentarians is to frame policies and programmes and make laws towards that end rather than to recommend specific development work within their Constituency. For specific development project within their Constituency or state they can always move the state and centre to get is sanctioned.

Without going for larger perspective they are required to adopt small projects which are of little consequences barring a few one. The law rules are violated with impunity. The MPs should realise that it is more harmful to themselves in the long run. The rate of defeat of sitting MPs has increased after implementation of this scheme compared to the period while it was not in vogue. There are other points which could be discussed in separate forum.

Debate & propaganda on Good MP and bad MP, meaningful implementation or otherwise is bogus one.

Simanchala Mishra: Of course, they should. MPLAD fund is a central allocation which they have to utilize for benevolent works in their constituencies. The fund is for the whole constituency, not for political workers of a party.The problems surface when the projects are executed through party workers. If an MP shows impartiality, there will be no hurdles and no political interference. Unfortunately, it has become a source of fund raising for the next election the member is likely to contest.

Umasankar Sahu: Of course they should be allowed…! Who are the IAS officers and political Chiefs to control the funds..? They can advice, but can’t force..

Kailash Behera:

a) There should always be a check and balance.
b) A true leader is he who can lead a majority and have the ability to convince.
c) Nobody is perfect whatever his IQ may be.
d) A MP is an agent of a democratic setup.
e) Andheri Nagri, Chaupat Raja. Lakh Ser Bhaji, Taka ser Khaja. Ha ha.