India, Jan. 11 -- Nearly 20 months after the 18th Lok Sabha commenced in May 2024, a performance snapshot of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme performance of the 42 Lok Sabha MPs from West Bengal as on 6 January presents a picture of wide disparities between proposals on paper and real delivery on the ground.

MPLADS is structured to give every sitting MP an annual allocation of Rs 5 crore to recommend small, constituency-focused development projects. With the parliamentary term now in January 2026, almost two financial years have elapsed, creating a cumulative availability of close to Rs 10 crore for each member. The expectation built into the scheme is straightforward: MPs recommend local works, district authorities san...