Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 14: The Legislative Assembly Secretariat has forwarded a proposal for increase in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of the legislators from Rs 1.5 crores to Rs 3 crores annually. The proposal was being considered by the Government and a decision was expected shortly as the CDF hasn’t been increased for the past three years.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Government could come up with its decision soon but with the riders necessitating expenditure of particular amount in Power, Health and Education sectors. The Finance, Planning and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Departments had to jointly finalize the proposal before it is cleared by the Cabinet.
According to sources, the Legislative Assembly and Council Presiding Officers, who act as custodians of the MLAs and MLCs respectively, have to be taken into confidence by the Government before hiking the CDF amount, which presently stands at Rs 1.5 crores per annum. Last increase in the CDF was carried out with effect from April 1, 2012 in which the CDF was increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore during previous regime of NC-Congress coalition Government. Since then, the CDF hasn’t been increased.
According to sources, Legislative Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta has forwarded proposal to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basharat Ahmad Bukhari proposing 100 per cent increase in the CDF from present Rs 1.5 crores to Rs 3 crores.
The Speaker took the decision after receiving joint representation from MLAs of different political parties during just concluded budget session of the Legislature. Sources said the Assembly Secretariat has forwarded the representation of the legislators to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department as it is without proposing any change in it.
The MLAs had sought doubling of the CDF from present Rs 1.5 crores to Rs 3 crores and the Assembly Secretariat has endorsed the proposal.
Sources said a decision on the proposal was likely to be taken shortly as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who also holds portfolio of the Planning Department, and Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu had assured increase in the CDF. The Finance Minister had, however, said that the population and area of the constituencies will have to be taken into account before taking decision on increasing the CDF as some constituencies have high voters and others very low. Similarly, some constituencies have large area as compared to others.
The increase in CDF could come into force with effect from current financial year, which started on April 1, 2015 though a decision on it can be taken later.
There are 89 MLAs and 34 MLCs. Twenty five of them are Ministers including the Chief Minister while four of them were Presiding Officers (two in the Assembly and two in the Council).
Sources said the legislators were empowered to release amount not exceeding to Rs 8 lakh for helping poor patients to purchase medicines or undergo diagnosis but only on the prescription of registered Physicians.
Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Development Commissioners act as Nodal Officers for expenditure of the CDF of the legislators.
Presently, out of a total of Rs 1.5 crore CDF, an expenditure of Rs 25 lakh on power sector has been made mandatory for the legislators.
This had been done to ensure improvement in electricity supply especially in the rural areas. However, in the upcoming increase, the Government could add Health and Education Departments also in the list of necessary expenditure, sources said. Expenditure of Rs 25 lakh on power sector from their Rs 1.5 crore CDF is mandatory for the legislators. If the MLAs/MLCs didn’t recommend Rs 25 lakh for power sector, this particular amount automatically lapses.
The legislators can also incur an amount up to Rs 10 lakh for development of sport activities in their respective segments.
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