Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (SB)

Panaji, Oct 15: Members of Parliament Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme should be converted into a legislation supported by Constitutional amendment said MP Shantaram Naik.
 
Naik was speaking after distributing computers, laptops and LCD Projectors to few institutions of South Goa at the Collectors’ Office in Margoa here on Wednesday. The scheme of the nature of MPLAD which has doled out hundreds of crores to the people over the years, should not remain merely as a scheme but the scheme should be upgraded to the level of a legislation, he said.

Mr Naik said that he was also in favour of constitutional backing for such legislation so that it gets necessary protection from challenge. The centre has rightly enacted legislation on rural unemployment and that, there is a National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and a scheme prepared under the act, he said.

Naik said a scheme which is not prepared under a legislation, technically can be called as an executive order. A Scheme like MPLAD deserves a better legal treatment. Implementation of a legislation backed scheme is more transparent, and, the ambiguities involved are less. The officers implementing it are more serious while implementing such schemes, he said.

Naik said that the network of Mahaiti Ghars that the Goa government proposes to establish all over the state will take the government to the door steps of the people. While admitting that computers and internet facilities are an ideal aid for students, Naik said that parents and teachers have to guide students against the misuse of the facilities as the Central legislation passed recently in this regards provides for stringent punishment for visiting prohibited sites.

Additional Collector P Acharya addressing the beneficiaries said that MPLAD is the most useful scheme and that the needy have been benefitted under the scheme.

Maria Bambino School, Cuncolim, RMS Higher Secondary School, Margao,Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Margao, Navneet Vachanalaya, Fatorpa and Margao Seva Association, Margao were the beneficiaries, stated a press realease from Naik’s office.