Centre okays MPLAD fund increase to Rs 5 cr

The Centre has in principle approved the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds increase from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore. Subhash Bamre, BJP MP from Maharashtra, has regretted that the Rs 1 crore fund is too meagre to meet an MP's needs. He pointed out that in Maharashtra, the MLAs were getting Rs 2 crore per annum as People's representative funds. Bamre wondered how the MP in whose constituency there were five to six assembly constituencies could meet with the demands with Rs 1 crore per annum. Following the Bamre plea, the Prime Minister is understood to have pointed to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to look into the matter. The Finance Minister who looked into the matter supported the proposal. Minister of State for Programme Implementation VK Singh said the final decision would be taken in the matter shortly.