Balasore MP’s PA raises MPLADS fund cut-off issue at Vigyan Bhawan training programme

By Sudam Patra

Balasore, Sept. 15: A one-day induction training programme for representatives of Members of Parliament (MPs) was organised at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Monday. The programme was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.

Personal Assistant (PA) to Balasore Lok Sabha MP Chandrabindu Das participated in the event and actively contributed to the discussions. He pointed out that while the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation allocates Rs 5 crore under the MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) for each MP from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, a sum of Rs 10 lakh is deducted every year. This, he said, results in MPs losing up to ₹50 lakh over their five-year tenure, thereby affecting developmental works in their constituencies.

Responding to the concern, a senior departmental secretary assured that from the coming year, such deductions would no longer be made.

The intervention by Mr. Das’s representative was widely appreciated by dignitaries present at the conference. Currently, there are a total of 790 MPs in both Houses of Parliament.