CHENNAI: Not only are they wealthier, but the members of Tamil Nadu’s 14th Legislative Assembly are better educated as well.
The literacy rate among the new MLAs is slightly higher than before though 50 per cent of the members have done a higher secondary course or below.
While only one MLA -- K Jayakumar of Namakkal -- in the 13th Assembly had a doctorate, this time two members have doctorates -- MH Jawahirullah of Ramanathapuram and Thamizharasan of Kilvaithinankuppam.
The number of post-graduates has gone up from 26 in the last Assembly to 33 while the number of undergraduates has increased from 78 to 81.
The number of those who have completed higher secondary education has increased from 16 to 22 while the number of those members who have passed SSLC has increased from 49 to 53.
Similarly, the number of the members who have passed ESLC (Class 8) has gone up from 17 to 20.
On the other hand, the number of those who have passed Class 5 has come down from nine to seven.
Two members in the previous Assembly were illiterate according to their affidavits filed with their nominations in 2006 while none of the member of the current Assembly are illiterate.
Still there are three members who are just literate. While 37 members have not provided their educational qualifications in their affidavits filed ahead of the 2006 Assembly elections, the number has come down to 12 in the current Assembly.