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The Government has just released Rs.225 crore under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in respect of 225 constituencies. With this, the total funds released under MPLADS in the current financial year (2004-05) amounts to Rs.492 crore.
It may be recalled that, the Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation Shri Oscar Fernandes held recently, discussions with a large number of newly elected Members of Parliament from various States on making the MPLADS more effective and efficient. While trying to know the difficulties faced by the Members of Parliament in their implementation, he told them that since the objective of the Scheme being, creation of durable community based assets on locally felt needs, there should be no deviation from the Guidelines while recommending the works.
Another aspect that is causing concern to the government is the large unspent balance lying with the districts from the funds of the MPLADS. It is currently estimated to be about Rs.2100 crore. The Ministry is presently engaged in a comprehensive revision of the Guidelines and the valuable suggestions emerged from the interactive sessions Mr.Fernandes had with the MPs, will be incorporated in the revised Guidelines, expected to be issued shortly.
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