Report Card: Rajesh Chudasama, BJP Constituency — Junagarh

MPLAD funds lowdown

Chudasama allotted his MPLAD funds for 133 works, including construction of community halls, paver blocks in internal roads in residential societies, culverts and roads, among others. “Mine is a largely rural constituency and therefore, I adopted an approach to use my funds on social infrastructure projects that will directly benefit people. Majority of these works were suggested by sarpanches of villages,” Chudasama told The Indian Express.

Questions asked in Parliament

In his second term as MP from 2019 to 2024, he asked 361 questions related to a wide range of departments.

June 21, 2019: Junagadh city is home to Sakkarbagu Zoo. Chudasama sought to know if the Union government has formulated any scheme to provide assistance to the local bodies of states to develop zoos, if it has taken any step for modernisation of zoos in Gujarat.

June 28, 2019: The eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctury is in Junagadh. Chudasama sought details of state-wise ESZs, which have been created around national parks, as per directives of the Supreme Court; details of conditions specified by the SC in this regard; steps taken to ensure/maintain the sanctity of ESZ around national parks and whether permission is required to be taken to alter or terminate water bodies or watersheds around ESZ.

November 17, 2019: Chudasama quizzed the Union government about the number of recommendations of collegiums pending with it and the reason behind the same; the number of recommendations of collegiums that have not been approved in the last three years and names of persons recommended by the collegiums in last three years for elevation as SC and HC judges and Chief Justice(s), which were not approved by the Union government.

December 3, 2019: Chudasama asked whether the government has recently made any changes under Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme for farmers; whether the scheme has benefited farmers and if so, the reasons and details behind the same.

December 11, 2023: With ecotourism booming in Gir, Chudasama asked whether the government has any action plan to boost tourism to attract more foreigners

and also upgrade existing tourist places with latest facilities, if so, the details thereof; whether the government proposes to promote tourism at various wildlife sanctuaries.

December 5, 2023: Chudasama asked whether the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) proposes to generate about 55 lakh direct and indirect jobs in the fisheries sector by 2024-25, if so, its details; how PMMSY has helped in increasing incomes of fishermen particularly in Maharashtra and the number of fishermen who have got employment under the scheme.

December 14, 2023: Details of largescale development highway projects in Gujarat, including funds spent on these projects in last five years; status of the highway projects in Gujarat.

February 8, 2024: Whether the government proposes to consider fishermen’s plea to resume the supply of kerosene at subsidised rates and if not, why; whether it is aware that non-subsidised kerosene supplied through public distribution system is insufficient to meet the demand of fishermen who use outboard motor boats and if the government is ready to increase the allocation of non-subsidised kerosene to states like West Bengal and Maharashtra for fishing purposes.

Debates participated: 6

Chudasama participated in six debates, including two motions of thanks to the President’s address as well a debate on the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023. He made a special mention during zero hour in September 2020, stressing on the need to take steps to secure release of fishermen detained in Pakistani jails. He also participated in debate over motion of thanks of the President in February 2020, and talked about coastal areas, fishermen and fishery.