J&K Amends CDF Guidelines: Empowering MLAs for Community Development

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced on Wednesday that the guidelines for MLAs' Constituency Development Fund (CDF) spending have been revised. These changes aim to provide legislators with more leeway in serving their constituents better.

Speaking at the Legislative Assembly, Abdullah highlighted that previous spending limits on several categories have been either eased or entirely removed. Such changes include eliminating the Rs 50 lakh ceiling for power development infrastructure and the Rs 10 lakh cap for solar panel installation.

In light of the recent floods, a one-time relaxation allows MLAs to allocate up to Rs 50 lakh from their CDF for housing construction and repairs for calamity-hit families, effective until the fiscal year 2026-27. Furthermore, the cap on utilizing 80% of CDF funds to prevent overlap has also been abolished, along with new provisions for temporary shed construction, and grants for old age homes and youth clubs.