MPLADS: To Scrap or To Re-Invent?

Abstract

Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is a centrally sponsored program funded by the Government of India. It was initiated to empower the Members of Parliament (MPs) to develop their respective constituencies based on the local needs. This paper attempts to understand MPLADS and suggest that there is a need to reformulate the scheme to help MPs do their developmental duties more effi ciently. The paper is divided into fi ve sections. The fi rst section attempts to throw light on the basics of MPLADS as a scheme – objective of the programme and working of MPLADS. The second section discusses the past trends about the utilisation of funds. The third section discusses the opinions in support of scrapping this scheme. The fourth section focuses on the need to have structured underlying research in an attempt to reinvent the program. The concluding section suggests that there is a need for a more structured approach towards collecting evidence at the level of the constituency.