MPs should identify bodies for outsourcing ambulances: Panel

Members of Parliament should identify and suggest organisations for outsourcing ambulances, which are purchased under MPLAD scheme, a Parliamentary panel said.
At present, under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme, an MP can recommend the purchase of ambulance. But a committee consisting of Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon and two other representatives of district magistrate identifies and selects the organisation for outsourcing the vehicle.
"Member of Parliament may recommend one or a few organisations to which the ambulance is to be given. The committee may scrutinise the recommendations and advise the district magistrate about the suitability of the organisation recommended by the MP," the Committee on MPLAD scheme chaired by A K S Vijayan, said in its report in the Lok Sabha.

According to the panel, in case the organisation recommended by the MP were not found fulfilling the criteria fixed for the purpose, he should be informed about that and asked to recommend some other reputed national or state level trusts or societies for the operation of ambulance.
About the provision under the scheme that states can make rules for selection of implementing agencies for the works recommended by an MP, the Committee said, "..(this) in turn evolve different rules/guidelines and different rules/ guidelines and different interpretations of the scheme."
The Committee recommended that Statistics Ministry should issue suitable directions to all states to maintain uniformity while framing rules/guidelines for identification of implementing agency and implementation of MPLAD guidelines.

It also asked the ministry to make provision of sufficient due diligence before verifying the credentials of societies and trusts under the MPLAD scheme. The panel has asked to include the list of documents suggested by the NABARD Consultancy Services, in the guidelines of the MPLAD scheme.

Regarding the inspection of works taken up under the scheme, the ministry should fix a percentage of works that should mandatorily be inspected by the district authorities.
Under the MPLAD scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for works to the tune of Rs 5 crore per annum to be taken up in his or her constituency.

The Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha can recommend works in one or more districts in the state from where he or she has been elected.
The nominated MPs of both the Houses may select any one or more districts from any one state in the country for implementation of their choice of work under the scheme.