<div><em> If the scheme is successful, the honours will be showered on Modi, and he will be credited with the vision, writes <strong>Manish Kumar Pathak</strong></em><br><br>The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD), which was launched in 1993, under which every Member of Parliament was allocated Rs1 crore per annum, was to be used in the development of their particular constituencies. The amount has now been increased to Rs 5 crore per annum. However, this scheme has always been clouded in controversy, with issues of rampant corruption, under-utilisation of funds, and has also created a sense of political clout that is very hard to breach.|</div><div> </div><div>Inspite of the issues, and the many studies that have gone into this scheme, it has survived and the amount has only grown. The members, however, are not complaining as according to them this amount allows them to give something worthwhile to their constituencies. </div><div> </div><div>One such way to actually use the funds would be through the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2014, in which every Member of Parliament will have to take the responsibility of developing the infrastructure of three villages both physically and institutionally by 2019.</div><div> </div><div>Herein lies the opportunity for the members to propagate what they preach, and make use of the funds at their disposal. The tangible changes that they so want to happen in the constituents will transpire if an honest attempt is made to achieve the target by the set deadline. </div><div> </div><div>The Rs 5 crore funds under the MPLADs scheme can now be utilised to fill the gap between proposing plans and motivating villagers to be a part of the change. It can also be used to address primary issues at the grassroots like sewage problems, and also erratic water supply. The additional resources that flow in from Corporate Social Responsibility can be combined to change the stagnant growth in villages. </div><div> </div><div>There is another way and a rather innovative one where MPLAD can be utilised. The appalling conditions of Railway halts are a sore to the eyes, and here in again the respective members of Parliament can step in. </div><div> </div><div>Proper utilisation of funds and an honest desire to promulgate change will certainly transform villages, as has been proved by Sachin Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabha MP, who had adopted Puttamraju Kandriga, a village in Andhra Pradesh, and has reformed it significantly. From concrete roads, to a 24-hour water and power supply, from proper sewage disposal system to an identified playground area, this village is proving to a shining example on how the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana can be viewed as an opportunity to bring about change.</div><div> </div><div>This is a win-win situation for the Prime Minister. Naming the scheme after the Parliament is a tactical master-stroke by Narendra Modi. If the ambitious proposal does not yield the required results, the parliamentarians will be held accountable. However, if the scheme is successful, the honours will be showered on Modi, and he will be credited with the vision.</div><div> </div>
