Maha MLAS, MLCS to face pay cut for a year

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday decided to cut salaries of MLAS and MLCS by 30 per cent from this month till March next year in view of the state’s economy bearing the brunt of the coronavirus crisis.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, also decided to set up two committees to recommend steps for the economic revival of the state.

“A decision has been taken to deduct salaries of MLAS and MLCS by 30 per cent from April 2020 to March 2021,” Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, said after the meeting.

He said t he Cabinet al so decided to set up to committees which will recommend how to revive the economy.

One of the committees will comprise economists, industrialists, retired bureaucrats and senior officials of the finance department, Pawar said.

The second panel will include Ajit Pawar and senior ministers Jayant Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Chhagan Bhujbal, Parab, Eknath Shinde and Ashok Chavan.

During the Cabinet meeting, the ministers discussed strict implementation of the lockdown in view of the growing number of coronavirus cases, and increasing the capacity of provisionof food in shelter.

LUDHIANA: Till last month, tailor shops in Ludhiana’s small towns were busy making ladies’ blouses and kurta-pajamas on order. In the past six days, their brief has undergone a swift revision.

Since April 2, the tailors of at least three small towns, Payal, Doraha and Malout have been stitching at least 450 to 500 cotton masks a day, for which they are being paid Rs 15 a mask by the district administration. The authorities are funding the project through two agencies — the District Red Cross Society and the Local Bodies Department. Till date, an amount of Rs 1 lakh has been incurred by the administration for the project.

Several individuals and even a