MP fund hiked to ' 5 crore
Source: Hueiyen News Service
New Delhi, March 11 2011:
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today announced a ' 2,370-crore bonanza for MPs by raising allocations under MPLAD scheme from ' 2 crore to ' 5 crore, even as he expressed concern over inflation and recalled the steps to bring back funds stashed abroad.
MPs have been demanding an increase in the MPLADS funds to enable them to take up worthwhile developmental activities in their constituencies.
They have been demanding either to raise the allocation or else to scrap the scheme.
Although the government obtained the approval of the Election Commission before announcing the scheme, the Minister said, MPs will not be able to utilise the enhanced allocation or make commitments till the ongoing elections in the five states (Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala) are completed.