PM’s 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 told a news agency.

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.