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MPs' area development fund doubled

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today announced in Parliament that he would be doubling the members of Parliament's local area development fund from Rs 10 million to Rs 20 million. Several MPs described the announcement as a ''Christmas gift'' to the people, handed over by Vajpayee exactly five years after the announcement of the scheme by then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao on December 23, 1993.

Vajpayee's statement was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ram Naik when the Rashtriya Loktantrik Manch members were opposing the Vananchal bill at the top of their voice.

The prime minister said that it was being seen that in view of the increasing demands made on members of Parliament for development of their areas and the rising cost of inputs, the fund had to be increased. Separate meetings were held under the chairmanship of the speaker of the Lok Sabha and the chairman of the Rajya Sabha wherein it was proposed that government should increase the allocation to Rs 20 million per member of Parliament.

"It gives me pleasure to announce that my government has accepted this recommendation," he said.

Further, it has been decided that the interest accrued on the funds deposited with the nationalised banks may be used for the same purpose for which the basic amount has been allocated.

It has also been decided that a funds left behind by a Rajya Sabha MP would be distributed would be will be equally distributed amongst the successor Rajya Sabha members from the same state. All these changes are to come into effect from the financial year 1998-99.

''We hope with the increased allocation and modifications, members of Parliament will be in a better position to serve the people,'' he said.

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