Odisha MLAs' Salaries Soar 211%, Now Highest Paid in India

• Odisha Assembly unanimously passed bills to increase salaries and allowances for MLAs, ministers, CM, and ex-MLAs.
• MLAs' monthly salary-allowance increased by 211% from ₹1.11 lakh to ₹3.45 lakh, making them the highest-paid in the country.
• CM's salary rose to ₹3.74 lakh, ministers to ₹3.58 lakh, and speaker to ₹3.68 lakh; ex-MLAs' pension increased to ₹80,000.
• The hike is retrospective from June 2024, with automatic review every five years and a ₹25 lakh family assistance for deceased MLAs.
• The increase comes despite Odisha's per capita income being below the national average and its minimum wage being lower than many states.

Why It Matters: Odisha MLAs' salary surge highlights disparity with state's low wages.