KOHIMA: The Nagaland government has greenlit a proposal to enhance the salaries, allowances, and additional perks for Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
This decision was taken during a recent Cabinet meeting, signifying a move aimed at augmenting the welfare measures for legislators.
Alongside boosting pension benefits for former members and ex-1BMs, the Cabinet also instructed the concerned department to implement a 10% increment in vehicle maintenance allowances for representatives travelling from far-flung areas of the state.
Furthermore, the Cabinet nodded to a substantial hike in the financial advance, elevating it to Rs 20 lakh per member, a notable surge from the initially proposed Rs 15 lakh.
Interestingly, a report unveiled by the poll watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on February 21, 2023, revealed intriguing insights into the financial landscape of Nagaland’s political arena.
The report, released a week ahead of the Nagaland Assembly elections in 2023, scrutinised the assets of 47 out of the 53 MLAs vying for re-election.
According to the report, the assets of these re-contesting MLAs witnessed a remarkable surge, ranging from 0.1% to a staggering 6870%, underscoring a significant escalation in wealth accumulation over the years.
Conversely, the assets of the remaining six MLAs experienced a downturn, plunging from -1% to -90%.
The data showcased a notable escalation in the average assets of the 53 re-contesting MLAs, soaring from ₹5.46 crore in 2018 to ₹7.10 crore in 2023, reflecting a substantial increment of ₹1.64 crore over the stipulated period.
Among the highlighted figure, Chief Minister and chief of the Nationalist Progressive Democratic Party (NDPP), representing the Northern Angami-II constituency, stood out with a noteworthy surge in assets, escalating by ₹10.53 crore from ₹36.41 crore in 2018 to ₹46.95 crore in 2023.
Similarly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) showcased a notable uptick in assets, with 12 of its MLAs witnessing a 43.6% increase, as their assets surged from ₹3 crore in 2018 to nearly ₹5.5 crore in 2023, underscoring a substantial growth trajectory.
