Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 19 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi will be building coaching institutes, which double as a library and reading centre in Odisha's Khorda district will be funded through a newly devised 'convergence model' for proper utilisation of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Division (MPLAD) funds. Sarangi said that she will also be teaching at these institutes on a volunteer basis.

Under the convergence model devised with the Khordha District Collector, half or more of the funds needed for development projects will be provided through MPLAD, and the other half will come from various central and state government schemes.

'I have devised a convergence model to properly utilise MPLADs (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Division) funds. We have decided to build a coaching institute that doubles as a library and reading centre, each in the eight blocks under my constituency. Each will cost Rs 53 lakh. Rs 30 lakh have been contributed through MPLADs by me. The remaining Rs 23 lakh will come from four different central and state government schemes, contributed by the DC,' Sarangi told ANI on Wednesday.

The BJP MP has also said that she wants to build libraries in each of the 156 Panchayats in her constituency, with half of the cost being given through MPLAD and the other half funded through schemes.

'Additionally, we want a library worth Rs 10 lakh in each of the 156 Panchayats under my constituency... I would contribute Rs 5 lakh, and the DC will contribute the remaining Rs 5 lakh from different schemes... The local youth organisations or senior citizens welfare organisations will manage these libraries... All of this will be free of cost... Once this project is successful, we will document it properly. It should be a model at the national level,' she said.

Under the MPLAD schemes, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for works to the tune of Rs.5 Crores per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency. Notably, the Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament can recommend works in one or more districts in the State from where he/she has been elected. (ANI)