*Unprecedented step towards local development — Delhi Cabinet approves 50% hike in MLA-LAD fund
*Delhi MLAs to now get Rs. 15 crore each — triple the fund of any other state: CM Atishi
*No state government has ever allocated this much local area development fund to MLAs: CM Atishi
*Over the last 10 years Delhi Government has been committed towards improving the lives of Delhiites under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal; we will continue this momentum forward: CM Atishi
*Roads, sewers, and local issues to be fixed on fast track with Rs 15 Crore MLA Fund boost: Saurabh Bharadwaj
NEW DELHI-10.10.24-In an unprecedented move, the Delhi Cabinet approved a massive 50% hike in MLA-LAD Fund, on Thursday. With this each MLA’s local area development fund will be increased from Rs. 10 crores to Rs. 15 crores per year. This move, announced by Chief Minister Atishi and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday, positions Delhi as the state with the highest MLA Fund allocation in the country.
Speaking at the press conference, CM Atishi emphasized the importance of the MLA Fund in a democracy, stating that it is a crucial mechanism for local residents to initiate development projects in their constituencies. “Today, there was an important meeting of the Delhi government's Cabinet at the Delhi Secretariat, where a major decision was made regarding the MLA-LAD Fund. The MLA-LAD Fund is a very important fund in a democracy through which local residents can get small or large development works done through their MLA. The MLA Fund represents the voice of the people to get their work done. Today, the Delhi Cabinet has made a significant decision by increasing the MLA Fund from ₹10 crores per year to ₹15 crores per year. No other state in the country provides such a large MLA Fund as Delhi,” she said.
Highlighting comparisons with other states, she noted that Gujarat allocates ₹1.5 crores per MLA constituency, while states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka provide ₹2 crores. Even larger states such as Maharashtra, Kerala, and Rajasthan allocate only ₹5 crores, making Delhi’s ₹15 crores the most significant in the country. “Now, Delhi will provide ₹15 crores per year, not only the highest in the country but also three times more than most states. For the past ten years, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government has been working for the people of Delhi—whether they live in slums, unauthorized colonies, or big bungalows. In the coming years, the Delhi government will continue to work for the people of Delhi,” she stated.
Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj further elaborated on the rationale behind the increase, particularly in light of the damage caused by this year’s heavy rains. “This year Delhi has experienced a lot of rain, which has caused damage to the roads, parks, walkways, and walls. Due to the increased rain, there are also issues with sewers in many places—they have become clogged or silted up, and new sewer lines have been laid. MLAs have been regularly bringing these issues to our attention, and the increased MLA Fund will enable them to quickly provide relief without waiting for long departmental sanctions,” he stated.
He emphasized that the flexibility of the MLA Fund allows representatives to address local concerns promptly, ensuring faster and more efficient responses to infrastructure and development needs across the city. “The good thing about the MLA Fund is that it was created to allow MLAs to quickly address local issues. I believe that the main reason for increasing this fund is that many projects get delayed due to departmental sanctions. This fund will allow MLAs to provide immediate relief to the public.”