Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 16: In a major decision that would facilitate the Members of Parliament (MPs) to help the flood ravaged victims in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India has relaxed norms for release of MPLAD funds, which would enable any MP in the country to contribute for relief and rehabilitation measures in the State voluntarily.
There had been demands from several MPs—both from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for relaxation of norms so that they could contribute for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in Jammu and Kashmir. However, under the MPLAD norms, the MPs can contribute for such works within their constituencies only but the Government had powers to relax the norms in case of emergent situation.
Official sources told the Excelsior that acting on the appeals of the MPs, the Government of India has come out with an order relaxing the norms for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members to utilize their MPLAD funds for rehabilitation of flood affected victims of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the upper limit for the MPs to utilise their funds for providing relief to the people has been fixed at Rs 25 lakh. A MP has Rs 5 crores worth MPLAD in a year.
There are 543 Lok Sabha members and 250 Rajya Sabha MPs.
Sources said this way Jammu and Kashmir could receive a lot of aid as several MPs were keen to contribute towards relief and rehabilitation measures through their MPLAD.
A number of MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to use her office to get norms relaxed for their MPLAD, sources said, adding the Speaker also took up the matter with the Centre, which finally issued an order relaxing the norms for MPs to utilize funds up to Rs 25 lakh for relief and rehabilitation measures for flood hit people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The MPs were required to keep funds at the disposal of Jammu and Kashmir Government, which, in turn, would utilize them for welfare of flood affected people,’’ sources said, adding the decision taken by the Government of India would go a long way in assisting the State Government in relief and rehabilitation measures and building of infrastructure, badly damaged by the worst ever floods in the State.
The State Government was confident that most of the MPs were keen to contribute towards relief and rehabilitation of flood victims and the Government of India’s decision to relax norms would help the MPs.
“In view of the Central Government decision, the State Government was now expecting sufficient funds for relief measures from the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,’’ sources said.
Meanwhile, the Centre today advised the Jammu and Kashmir Government to ensure distribution of relief to the flood-hit people on war footing.
This was conveyed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to State Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey telephonically.
The National Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Seth, also reviewed the relief and rehabilitation work in flood affected areas of J&K, an official release said.
The Cabinet Secretary telephonically reviewed the relief work in the areas of power, food, health, drinking water, textile and connectivity through roads, telecommunication and broadcasting sectors.
The Secretaries and representatives of the Ministries and Departments of the Union Government also apprised the Chief Secretary and the NCMC of the latest relief measures being extended by them.
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