LOCAL SCHEME, VOCAL DEBATE

Detractors say schemes like MPLAD seriously erode the notion of separation of powers as the legislator directly becomes the executive while implementing them

- SHIVA RAJORA

One year after it was launched, the performance of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), schemes that state assemblies and panchayats advocate for their elected representatives, is contested.

Critics of these schemes argue that they erode the fundamental principle of separation of powers between the legislature and the executive, and are a mechanism to facilitate the distribution of public funds.

Supporters of these schemes, primarily elected representatives, argue that the schemes allow them to direct funds according to the needs of their constituents.

Critics say such schemes are misconceived. They violate the constitutional spirit of separation of powers between the legislature and the executive.

Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms, says that these schemes lead to the devaluation of the legislative process.

He points out that there are rarely any audits and probes into the utilization of public funds under these schemes, and that they are mostly used to settle political scores around election time.

On Monday, according to media reports, Lok Sabha member Agatha Sangma from Tura, Meghalaya, reportedly said that a review committee at the state level found that the projects undertaken under the scheme in her constituency were incomplete.

Sangma said that 20 years is not a short time, and that projects have been pending since 2002. "I don't want to comment at the moment, but the delays might be due to wrong choices made by my predecessors," Sangma said.

When Business Standard contacted Saleng by phone on Tuesday, he described his flagging of irregularities in the MPLAD scheme in Tura as a "small matter" involving "meagre amounts," which should not detract from the importance of MPLAD. He said that the annual allocation of ₹5 crore to MPs under MPLAD was fixed a decade ago and needs to be increased.