The Central government of India has allowed a one-time dispensation under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to allow Members of Parliament to recommend funds for purchase of medical testing and screening equipments for government hospitals and dispensaries and setting up of other related facilities in their respective constituencies.
MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) is a central sector scheme formulated by Government of India on 23 December 1993 that enables the members of parliaments (MP) to recommend developmental work in their constituencies with an emphasis on creating durable community assets based on locally felt needs.
Initially, this scheme was administered by Ministry of Rural Development. Later, in October 1994, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has been looking into its working.
Elected Members of Rajya Sabha representing the whole of the State as they do, may select works for implementation in one or more district(s) as they may choose.
Nominated Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may also select works for implementation in one or more districts, anywhere in the country.
MPs can also recommend work of up to Rs. 25 lakhs per year outside their constituency or state of election to promote national unity, harmony and fraternity.
MPs can recommend work of up to 25 lakh for Natural Calamity in the state and up to Rs. 1 crore in the country in case of Calamity of Severe Nature (e.g. Tsunami, major cyclones and earthquakes).
A State level nodal department is chosen, which is responsible for supervision and monitoring and maintaining coordination with line departments.
The main objective of the MPLADS Scheme is to enable the Members of Parliament (MP) to suggest and get executed developmental works of capital nature based on locally felt needs with emphasis on creation of durable assets.
Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their constituencies and elected Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State they are elected from.
Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
To create durable assets of national priorities viz. drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads, etc.
It is a Central Sector Scheme. The annual MPLADS fund entitlement per MP constituency is ₹5 crore.
The criticism has been on two broad grounds.