Shimla: The state budget may not bring relief to most of us, but certainly has something good for lawmakers. The state Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is also holding the Finance portfolio as well, announced to restore the salaries of state MLAs, which was trimmed to fight COVID-19.
Restored salaries would be paid in full from April 1, and the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund would be fully restored, CM announced while presenting Budget 2021-22 in the house.
To fight the Covid pandemic, the state government had last year decided to cut 30 percent salaries of its MLAs.
The MLA LAD was also suspended in April 2020 due to a difficult financial situation. Later it was partially restored and an amount of Rs. 50 lakh was released. The State CM, in his budget speech, announced to restore the funds in 2021-22 and also announce to increase of the funds from the existing Rs.1.75 crore to Rs.1.80 crore.
The Chief Minister revealed that the Government has succeeded in getting 639 MLA priority schemes worth Rs. 2,382 crore during the first three years of its tenure from NABARD.
Chief Minister also announced to increase the present limit of Rs.120 crore for posing MLA priority schemes to NABARD for funding under RIDF to Rs.135 crore.
