Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday informed that the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) has been restored for the remaining part of the financial year 2021-22 and shall be continued till 2025-26. It was earlier suspended, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister was addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Union Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The funds will be released at the rate of Rs 2 crore per MP for the remaining period of 2021-22 in one instalment. From 2022-23 to 2025-26, the funds would be released at the rate of Rs 5 crore per annum per MP in two instalments of Rs 2.5 crores each.
The government had suspended MPLADS during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in April last year. It said that the funds would be used for managing health services and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country instead.
As per the scheme, MPs can recommend development programmes involving the expenditure of Rs 5 crore every year in their constituencies.