House Committee to Review Legislators’ Pay Structure
Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu,(DD): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced an increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and a salary hike for Personal Assistants to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
Addressing the Legislative Assembly during discussions on departmental grants, he stated that the Speaker would form a House Committee to periodically review and revise the salaries of MLAs, ensuring they remain aligned with those of Members of Parliament.
He pointed out that MLAs’ salaries had not been revised since 2016 and stressed the need for a structured and transparent mechanism for fair and timely adjustments. “Our goal is to establish a transparent and systematic process for salary revisions, similar to that of Parliament,” he said.
Additionally, he announced an increase in the CDF allocation from Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore, aiming to enhance development efforts at the constituency level.
Acknowledging the role of MLAs’ Personal Assistants, he assured that their salaries would also be revised to reflect their contributions.
He further stated that CDF guidelines would be aligned with those of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme to ensure efficient utilisation of funds. “If additional modifications are needed, we are open to making necessary adjustments,” he added.(DD)