Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The government Tuesday retracted a change in the guidelines for use of MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds, which appeared to water down the requirement to set aside a certain portion for areas dominated by Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
In a “corrigendum” issued on Tuesday evening, the government said: “In order to give due attention to the development of infrastructure in the areas inhabited by SCs and STs, Members of Parliament are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the total MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Castes population and at least 7.5 per cent of the total MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Tribes population.”
On Saturday, CPI(M) MP John Brittas had pointed out a change in the guidelines which made the provision for allocation to SC/ST areas advisory in nature. Brittas expressed the apprehension that this could result in a drop in funds for these areas, and change the “inclusive and egalitarian nature” of MPLADS, while pointing out that funds under it had been instrumental in the development of these regions through works like drinking water facilities, and construction of roads and toilets.
The changed guidelines highlighted by Brittas, which would have come into effect from April 1, said: “In order to give due attention to the development of infrastructure in the areas predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, it shall be advisable for Members of Parliament to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the total MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Caste population, and at least 7.5 per cent of the total MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Tribe population.”
The earlier guidelines, in place since 2016, provided flexibility in spending funds on either SCs or STs depending on their population in a constituency. They also had a provision to spend the stipulated amount in any other part of the state provided there was not a sizeable SC/ST population in an MP’s constituency.
This meant that of the Rs 25 crore an MP could spend over five years, at least Rs 3.75 crore had to be set aside for SCs and Rs 1.87 crore for STs.
The government has now reinstated these old provisions.
Sources said the tweak introducing the word “advisable” regarding the funding was an “oversight”, and came to the notice of the political leadership after it was pointed out by MPs.
Brittas had also criticised the new guidelines for excluding government-aided institutions from the ambit of MPLADS, saying this could particularly impact the education sector.
The revised version corrects this too, saying: “MPLADS funds can be used for creation of immovable public assets on government-owned land, and movable public assets for government-owned and government-controlled institutions only, i.e. the central state/UT and local governments, including government-aided institutions.”
As per the revised guidelines, cooperative societies – except cooperative housing societies — will also be eligible for assistance under MPLADS, on a par with “registered trusts/societies, only for creating durable assets for the community and public utility”.
