CM Omar Abdullah announces hike in CDF, salaries of MLAs’ personal assistants
House committee to review legislators’ salaries
On March 20, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah revealed plans to raise the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the salaries of Personal Assistants to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). This announcement was made during a session in Srinagar.
According to the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Chief Minister also mentioned that the Speaker would establish a House Committee to regularly assess and update the salaries of MLAs in line with those of Members of Parliament.
While speaking in the Legislative Assembly during the debate on grants for departments under his responsibility, he pointed out that the salaries of MLAs had not been adjusted since 2016. He emphasized the necessity for a well-organized and transparent system to guarantee fair and timely salary revisions.
“We want to ensure that salaries of MLAs are increased in a transparent, structured, and automatic manner, following the pattern of Parliament,” he said, adding that the Speaker would constitute a House Committee to determine salary revisions.
In addition to the salary hike, he announced an increase in the CDF for MPs from rupees 3 crore to 4 crore, stating that the move was aimed at enhancing development activities at the constituency level.
“I will also implement it myself,” he told the MLAs while responding to the demand for a salary hike for their Personal Assistants. He also acknowledged their role in assisting legislators and said their remuneration should be revised accordingly.
He further stated that the CDF guidelines would be aligned with those of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme to ensure better utilization of funds. “If further changes to the guidelines are required, we will make them,” he said, assuring that any necessary amendments would be considered to improve the efficiency of development projects—(KNO)
