Omar increases Jammu and Kashmir MLAs' funds to ₹4 crore

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced on Thursday an increase in the constituency development funds for members of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly. The funds will rise from ₹3 crore to ₹4 crore, reflecting a ₹1 crore increase. During the announcement, Abdullah also asked the speaker of the legislative assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, to form a panel. This panel would include leaders from various political parties to discuss revising MLA salaries. He noted that salaries have not increased since 2015 and compared them unfavorably to officers’ salaries, which have risen significantly. With the current assembly having 88 members due to two vacant seats, Abdullah emphasized the need for a fair and transparent process for salary revisions. He proposed establishing a structure for automatic salary reviews every five years. In addition to the fund increase, Abdullah unveiled a one-time amnesty scheme for domestic power consumers. This initiative aims to support consumers amid ongoing power sector reforms. He announced that this would be the seventh time the government has offered such an amnesty.