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SFI seeks donation for ‘68 poor MLAs’; raises HPU budget cut

During the Budget Session of Assembly, the Himachal Pradesh government had passed three amended Bills hiking the salaries and allowances of the chief minister, other ministers, MLAs, Speaker and Deputy Speaker by almost 24 per cent.

3 min readShimlaApr 2, 2025 08:33 AM IST

SFI activists during the protest at HPU campus, Tuesday. (Express photo)

Student’s Federation of India (SFI) on Tuesday slammed the Himachal Pradesh government for its decision to enhance salaries and allowances of the chief minister and MLAs. They said that at a time when the state is struggling with financial crunch, the ministers are focusing on increasing their salaries and allowances in the assembly. As a mark of protest, SFI activists held placards with ‘donation campaign for the 68 poor MLAs’ written and stood at the campus demanding charity for the “poor legislators.”

SFI campus president Ankush Rana said, “Our MLAs are poor and helpless, struggling in their daily lives, and thus need financial assistance from the public. The government should focus on framing policies that benefit the public. There is a need to increase the budget for education and healthcare and to provide more facilities to the people rather than increasing their own salaries. On the first day of protest, we collected Rs 70 for the MLAs. We will hold more symbolic protests in the coming days and will pass all collected charities to the MLAs.”

He added that HPU sought a budget of around Rs 250 crore but the government allotted around Rs 151 crore. “Funding for education and healthcare is being reduced continuously and the government has been citing economic crisis as reason. But MLAs increased their own salaries and allowances, which will cause an additional burden of Rs 24 crore annually to the state exchequer,” he said.

During the Budget Session of Assembly, the Himachal Pradesh government had passed three amended Bills hiking the salaries and allowances of the chief minister, other ministers, MLAs, Speaker and Deputy Speaker by almost 24 per cent. The CM, who receives a salary of Rs 95,000 per month, is now proposed to get Rs 1.15lakh. A cabinet minister, who is entitled to draw a salary of Rs 80,000, is proposed to receive Rs 95,000 per month. Similarly, a minister of state and deputy minister, who get monthly salaries of Rs 78,000 and Rs 75,000, respectively, will now get Rs 93,000 and Rs 80,000, respectively.

The salary of an elected MLA is proposed to increase from Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000.

SFI cubmits memorandum to director of higher education

The SFI state committee on Tuesdy submitted a memorandum to the Director of Higher Education, highlighting concerns over the alleged exploitation of students under the guise of the PTA fund in various colleges across Himachal Pradesh. SFI accused college administrations of misusing these funds and urged the director to take action. They said that the fund was introduced under PTA Rule 2006 for the welfare of students. However, students are being charged anything between Rs 600 and Rs 1000 under the fund, leading to the accumulation of lakhs by college administrations. The Government Excellence College, Sanjauli, was mentioned as an example of this malpractice, they said.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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