Funds under MPLADS to be used by district authorities in the fight against COVID-19

March 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting that social distancing is the only way out for the country in its decisive battle against the coronavirus. However, in this battle against coronavirus, there is a requirement of huge funds. The union govt has released an amount of Rs.15,000 crore for this purpose.

To further boost up the health sector at the district level, the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation has come up with a plan. It has allowed the district authorities to use the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for medical testing, screening and other facilities to contain COVID-19.

A letter in this connection was issued to all Members of Parliament (MP) of the Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha by the Joint Secretary (MPLADS), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India on 24 March, 2020.

The ministry wrote this letter regarding one-time dispensation for utilizing funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to address the challenges in the fight against COVID-19. It was stated in the said letter that the utilisation of MPLADS fund will, “acilitate Hon’ble Members of Parliament to recommend funds for purchase of equipment for Government Hospitals / Dispensaries for medical testing and screening of patients and also facilitate in setting up other related facilities in their respective constituencies.”

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 to recommend developmental work in their constituencies with an emphasis on creating durable community assets based on locally felt needs.