J&K MLAs Eye 100% Pay Hike Amid State's Deep Economic Crisis

This special report focuses on a controversial proposal by a Jammu and Kashmir Assembly House Committee to double the salaries of legislators from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh per month, a move supported across party lines by the BJP, National Conference, and Congress. A critic in the debate highlighted the irony, stating, 'when it is time to increase the salary, they suddenly get all the power.' This proposed 100% hike comes at a time when the Union Territory is described as a “cash strapped state” grappling with significant economic challenges, including a derailed tourism sector, high unemployment, and contractual government workers awaiting unpaid salaries for months. The report explores the stark contrast between the legislators' push for enhanced perks, including a massive increase in housing loans, and the financial hardships faced by the common people of Jammu and Kashmir.