By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI : JULY 27, 2014 : MINISTER of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics & Programme Implementation, Mr. Rao Inderjit Singh, has said that the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) has been in operation since 1993-94. Programme Evaluation Organization of Planning Commission had conducted an evaluation of the Scheme, largely based on data and information gathered for the reference period 1994-95 to 1998-99 from a sample of MPs, State nodal Departments, other development functionaries and local people. Its report was submitted in November 2001, in which findings in respect of choice of districts, nature and status of works, recommendation of works and locally felt needs, allocation of funds and quality of assets, execution of works, monitoring and supervision, maintenance of assets, awareness amongst people and perceived impact, etc. and suggestions were given.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha Mr Singh said, the report mentioned that “The impact of the scheme as felt by the knowledgeable persons and local people indicate that about 65% of the created assets have been rated as good and overwhelming majority of them have opined that the created assets are as per the felt needs and has improved their quality of life. However, their opinion about the implementation and maintenance of assets points out to the inadequate arrangements and a need for large scale involvement of PRIs for strengthening the scheme.”

He said, implementation of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme(MPLADS) in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities as per the State Government's technical, administrative and financial rules. Monitoring mechanisms, wherein the roles of the Central Government, State Governments, District Authorities and Implementing Agencies are laid down, have been prescribed in the Guidelines on MPLADS.

The Minister said, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation regularly reviews the implementation of the MPLADS through national-level review meetings with State Government/District officers and visits to States/Districts. The Ministry also undertakes third party physical monitoring of the MPLADS works in selected districts through independent agencies. In addition, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C & AG) of India conducted Performance Audit of the MPLADS for the period 2004-05 to 2008-09, and submitted its report in 2010-11.

The observations in the third party physical monitoring reports and in the C & AG's Performance Audit Report relating to implementation in the field have been/are communicated to the concerned State Governments/District Authorities for taking appropriate action, including penal /departmental action and recoupment of MPLADS funds with interest in case of irregularities.