The Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme is all set to become disabled-friendly.
The Centre has decided to expand the scope of the scheme to allow MPs to provide assistance to the physically challenged in their constituencies, up to Rs. 10 lakh a year from their MPLAD fund. The change will come into effect from June 1.
Announcing this, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which is in charge of the scheme, said the assistance would, however, be restricted to purchase of tricycles and artificial limbs.
Applications for the assistance would be examined and approved by the Chief Medical Officers of districts concerned. The district authorities under the District Collectors/ Deputy Commissioners would be fully involved in the selection of the eligible persons, a Ministry release said.
A senior Ministry official noted that Minster M.S. Gill was working to create a wider basket of eligible items under the scheme so that MPs had a larger choice of projects that could be implemented through their MPLAD funds.
The Centre recently raised the annual entitlement under the scheme from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 5 crore a year for every MP.
