'MPLAD scheme funds can be used to develop model village'

The Member of Parliament Local Area Development scheme funds can be used for developing model villages under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), Parliament was informed today.
"Contributions from MPLAD scheme can be made to Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) for the works that are eligible for implementations under the guidelines on MPLADS," Statistics Minster V K Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The minister said that MPLAD scheme is for creation of durable community assets, as per the guidelines.
Under the SAGY, MPs will develop one model village in their constituency by 2016 and two more by 2019. Department of Rural Development has formulated guidelines of the scheme which were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11 last year.

The minister's another reply to the House revealed that centre has released Rs 2,950.5 crore under MPLAD scheme to various states in the country in the current fiscal till February 25 compared to Rs 3,937 crore in 2013-14.
MPs have recommended 37,569 works this fiscal till February 25, out of which 30,527 works were sanctioned, he said. However last fiscal, as many as 1,66,732 works were recommended by MPs, out of which 1,56,319 works were sanctioned.

It further revealed that the district authorities have incurred an expenditure of Rs 1,798.34 crore till February 25 this fiscal, compared to Rs 4,380.24 crore in 2013-14.

Under the MPLAD scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for works to the tune of Rs five crore per annum 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 any one or more districts from any one state in the country for the implementation of their choice of work under the scheme.