Centre says no proposal to enhance MPLAD fund

New Delhi [India], Mar.29 (ANI): The Centre has no plans to increase the component of MPLAD fund, Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation D.V.Sadananda Gowda told Shimla Member of Parliament Virender Kashyap recently. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Gowda said that the issue of enhancement of annual allocation of MPLADS fund was referred to Ministry of Finance which has conveyed that it is not possible to find fiscal space for such a huge liability on the exchequer in a fiscally constrained environment where scarce resources are to be allocated among competing demand of various flagship programmes catering to socio-economic / infrastructural as well as special needs. Gowda further informed Kashyap that various ministries may request Members of Parliament to contribute from their MPLADS fund for augmenting their schemes as per the extant provisions of the guidelines on MPLADS. However, recommendations / contributions by the MPs are voluntary, as per the very nature of the scheme. Guidelines on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) provides for convergence of MPLADS with Central Government schemes such as MGNREGA, Khelo India: National Programme for Development of Sports, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Atal Jyoti Yojana for providing solar lighting systems and for construction of shelters and equipment for imparting training for skill development, Gowda informed Kashyap. (ANI)