J'khand MLAs 'feel good'

Jharkhand's legislators are truly feeling good: The BJP Govt has just hiked their development funds, bringing them on par with MPs.

Jharkhand's legislators are truly feeling good: the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has just hiked their development funds, bringing them on par with members of parliament.

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This is in addition to their salaries that were doubled when the state was formed in November 2000 - and the laptops they were provided later.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda Friday announced that funds that are to be used to develop the constituencies had been hiked to Rs.20 million per annum.

In undivided Bihar, a legislator's development fund totalled Rs.10 million. This was raised to Rs.15 million after Jharkhand was created. Now it has gone up to Rs.20 million per annum.

When Jharkhand was formed, the legislators' salary went up from Rs.11,000 a month to Rs.22,000.

To expedite development work, every legislator was provided a laptop. But most of them appeared to be all thumbs in operating them.

The legislators are happy with the development.

"There is nothing wrong if the legislators' fund is raised. It will be used for the development of the constituencies and will help the voters," said CP Singh, chief whip of the BJP.

But notwithstanding the hike of legislators' salary and funds, the condition of the rural areas remained unchanged.

More than 60 percent of the state's population is poor. The literacy rate is 54 percent against the national average of 65 per cent.

Thousands migrate to other states in search of jobs. Of the 32,000 villages in the state, only 7,000 are electrified.