MLA Area Development Fund: Poor utilization blocks release of fresh amount
GUWAHATI: Owing to the non-utilization or less-than-prescribed utilization of the MLA Area Development (MLAAD) Fund, the shares of many MLA s have not yet been released during 2018-19. The main factor for the poor show with respect to the release of the development fund is the move taken by the new BJP-led coalition government to tag two key clauses to the MLA AD Fund. The first condition was that there should be 70 per cent utilization of the sanctioned fund in the previous year. The second condition was that there must be 100 per cent utilization of the sanctioned fund by the MLA concerned in the year earlier to that.
As a result, development programmes in many constituencies are stalled. This is primarily because the MLAAD Fund is intimately connected with the adoption and clearance of welfare schemes in the constituencies represented by the respective representatives of the people. Sources have informed that the MLA Area Development Funds have been either released or are on the process to be released only with respect to 25 per cent of the 126 MLAs of Assam.
The MLAAD Fund is monitored by the Transformation and Development Department while it is implemented by the respective offices of the Deputy Commissioners.
Four to five years ago, the MLA Area Development Fund constituted of Rs 50 lakhs. However, during the last Congress regime in the State, the amount was increased to Rs 1 crore. The present kitty remains at that amount.
As a result, many MLAs have not been able to show the due utilization of the MLA Area Development Fund allotted to them in 2016-17 and also in 2017-18 due to various reasons.
Nevertheless, official statistics show that utilization of the MLA Area Development Fund has been comparatively satisfactory in the five districts of Bongaigaon, Cachar, Karimganj, Morigaon, and Tinsukia.
In the present financial year with just another four and half months left, 75% of the legislators are yet to receive the fund.
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