PM Modi's model village scheme facing resistance from some MPs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "unique and transformative" model village scheme is facing tough resistance from a section of MPs who feel that there are "lacunae" in the programme which insist on them using the Rs 5 crore MPLADS fund for development of a particular village.

Ahead of the second half of the budget session, senior Congress MP and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament K V Thomas said MPs cutting across party lines will meet the Prime Minister, demanding enhancement of the MPLADS fund from Rs five crore to Rs 50 crore for implementation of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.

"Our demand is either enhance the MPLADS fund...instead of Rs five crore make it Rs 50 crore, or give special assistance to the projects in the model villages. But our demand will be minimum Rs 50 crore," the veteran parliamentarian said. 

He said already a memorandum signed by more than 100 MPs, including members from BJP had already been submitted to the PM by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai proposing this demand and opinion of the members on the model village scheme.

Thomas said at present the "lacuna" in the Prime Minister's scheme is that there is no special assistance for the model villages from the Government of India. "What Government of India says is you coordinate all the state government and central government projects in these model villages and develop the village and use the Rs five crore which is given as MPLADS fund. This is not practical.

MPLADS funds have to be used in all parts of the parliament constituencies...not in a particular village," he said. Thomas said he would discuss the issue with Thambidurai before MPs seeking appointment with Modi to press for the demand.

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