Indians becoming poorer, but wealth of MPs, MLAs swells

The average wealth of an MLA in India has swollen more than ten times from USD 1.3 million in the year 2015 to a massive Rs 13.6 million in 2018, founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Prof Jagdeep Chhokar said in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Professor Chhokar said that for an Indian MP, the average wealth in the year 2004 had stood at USD 280,639. However, the figure has grown to USD 2.9 million in the year 2019.
Chhokar was replying to a query on the wealth of MPs and MLAs in India at a time when the country is going through a tough economic situation, at a function held to commemorate 20 years of ADR, a non-governmental organisation that works in the field of electoral and political reforms in the country.
The function was held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia. As per ADR figures, the total wealth of all MPs in India stood at USD 144 million in the year 2004 and has now increased to USD 1.57 billion. Similarly, the combined wealth of all MLAs in the country that stood at USD 164.6 million in the year 2015 has now increased to USD 2.13 billion.
Replying to a query by IANS, Professor Chhokar said the organisation had been formed with the combined effort of 11 volunteers in the year 1999.
“These included eight IIM professors, two alumni of the IIM and one professor of the National Institute of Design. It was formed after we filed a PIL seeking implementation of the 170th Law Commission Report,” said Chhokar.