Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a scheme formulated by Government of India on 23 December 1993 that enables the members of parliaments (MP) to recommend developmental work in their constituencies with an emphasis on creating durable community assets based on locally felt needs.
Elected Members of Rajya Sabha representing the whole of the State as they do, may select works for implementation in one or more district(s) as they may choose.
25 lakhs per year outside their constituency or state of election to promote national unity, harmony and fraternity.
Infrastructure development on land belonging to registered societies/ trusts is permissible, provided the society/trust is engaged in social welfare activity, and is in existence for three years.
MPLADS funding is not permissible for those societies where the concerned MP and his/ her family members are office bearers.
[1][2] Top-5 states with highest utilisation-to-released fund ratio are Telangana (101.42%), Sikkim (100.89%), Chhattisgarh (99.6%), Kerala (99.3%) and West Bengal (98.65%).
Top Union Territories (UT) with highest utilisation-to -released fund ratio are Lakshadweep (111.68%), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (105.68%) and Delhi (104.1%).
For the year 2017–2018, majority spending of MPLADS funds happened in two sectors: ‘railways, roads, pathways and bridges’ (43%) and ‘Other public activities’ (23%).
In 2006, a scandal was exposed by a TV Channel, that showed MPs taking bribe for handing over project work under the MPLADS.
[4] Based on the innovative ideas received from the local people regarding developmental projects, a ‘One MP – One Idea’ Competition may be held in each Lok Sabha constituency annually to select the three best innovations for cash awards on the specific request of an MP to promote such a scheme in his/her constituency.
[5] This competition, launched at constituency level annually, selects the best models for education, skill-building, energy and environment, housing, etc.
While the website features details on fund utilisation and status of recommended works, the question of participation remains in dark.
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India— a body which audits the receipts and expenditures of the central and state governments, and bodies funded by them—observed in its 2010 report that participation of various constituents in a MP's constituency such as residence forum or local NGOs were ignored to understand local needs.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) conducted a performance audit[7] of 128 District Authorities of 35 states/ UTs for the period 2004–05 to 2008-09 and published a report in 2010.