Govt eyes over Rs 5K-cr unspent MPLADS funds amid coronavirus outbreak

320 legislators come forward to contribute to PM CARES Fund

Questions about the need for a new PM CARES Fund notwithstanding, nearly half of our MPs (Members of Parliament) have until now consented to allocate Rs 1 crore from their respective MPLADS to the recently set up PM CARES Fund to fight COVID-19.
 

The government is hopeful that more MPs will come forward in the days to come, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have reached out to not just their party MPs but those from other friendly parties as well to give their consent to allocate money to the PM CARES Fund.
 

Significantly, as of March 4, 2020, as