Pema Khandu Cabinet
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu during a Cabinet meeting in Itanagar. File Image credit - Northeast Now

The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet on Friday approved an ordinance cutting the salaries of all the MLAs and ministers, including the CM, his deputy, Speaker and his deputy, by 30% for a year.

Chief minister Pema Khandu chaired the State Cabinet meeting on Friday where it was decided to cut salaries of all the lawmakers of the state by 30% with effect from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

The fund will go to the state exchequer and will be used in the fight against COVID19.

The Khandu Cabinet took the decision to manage the adverse impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the state’s economy.

Recently the Union Cabinet decided to cut the salaries of all the MPs including the Union Council of Ministers by 30% for a year as the nation’s economy has been adversely affected by the COVID19 pandemic.

The Assam Cabinet and Tripura Cabinet have already also resolved to cut salaries of all the ministers and MLAs by 30%.

The State Cabinet also reviewed the preparedness of the state to contain the spread of COVID19 and the efforts required to strengthen the infrastructure to tackle the situation.

It also took stock of the status of existing and required medical equipment including VTMs, rapid testing kits, PPEs, masks and gloves for health care and other frontline workers.

The Cabinet also had a discussion on developing a comprehensive strategy that will include containment along with balancing the interest of the people in Arunachal Pradesh and those students and workers stranded outside the state due to the nationwide lockdown.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]