LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh government has released ₹1.5 crore as the first instalment of the local area development fund (Vidhayak Nidhi) to each of 401 MLAs and 98 MLCs for 2023-2024, according to a government order released on Wednesday.
A sum of ₹748.50 crore, including GST (18%), has been released, it said. There are two vacancies in the 403-member state legislative assembly while the state legislative council also has two vacancies in the sanctioned strength of 100 members.
The state government announced an increase in the Vidhayak Nidhi from ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore per legislator per annum and a provision of ₹2,520 crore had been made in the state budget for 2023-2024. Those aware of the development said the first instalment had been released in accordance with the existing provision of ₹3 crore per legislator per annum and the remaining sum will be released after the approval of chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
“We have increased the Vidhayak Nidhi to ₹5 crore. This is only the first installment. Vidhayak Nidhi is released in instalments and the state government will release the remaining installments as well,” said minister for finance Suresh Khanna.
Besides demanding an increase in the Vidhayak Nidhi, legislators had been seeking exemption of the works carried out from the legislators’ fund from the purview of GST.
{{/usCountry}}Besides demanding an increase in the Vidhayak Nidhi, legislators had been seeking exemption of the works carried out from the legislators’ fund from the purview of GST.
{{/usCountry}}“We have been demanding exemption from GST and the state government should take care of the demand,” said SP leader Manoj Kumar Pandey.