Why in News?

=> Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the MLAs Local Area Development Fund for UTTAR PRADESH will be increased from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore.

Key Points:

=> It is a modified form of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) of the Central Government.

=> The objective of the scheme is to create need-based infrastructure at the local level, build assets of public use and remove regional imbalances in development. The scheme is for rural areas as well as urban areas.

=> The MLAs do not get any money under this scheme.

=> The government transfers it directly to the local authorities concerned.

=> Legislators can recommend the works to be done under it in their constituencies only on the basis of the guidelines.

=> The allocation of funds per MLA under the scheme varies from State to State.

=> Significantly, the Uttar Pradesh government had increased the MLALAD fund from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore in February 2020, which was suspended in 2020-21 due to the Covid pandemic and partially restored in 2021-22.

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED