The Hindu : Front Page : A bonanza for Delhi MLAs, Ministers and Chief Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005

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Front Page

A bonanza for Delhi MLAs, Ministers and Chief Minister

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding their party president Sonia Gandhi's much talked about directive to the Congress rank and file to observe utmost austerity, the Delhi Cabinet on Monday voted for a post-Diwali bonanza of a hundred per cent increase in the salaries of the Chief Minister, all Ministers and MLAs. The proposal will now be sent to the Union Government for approval after which a Bill would be introduced in the Delhi Assembly to implement the hike.

Other beneficiaries of the Cabinet decision include the Delhi Assembly Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Whip.

A committee headed by Finance Minister A. K. Walia had recommended the hike in the salaries. The other members of the committee included Nationalist Congress Party MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Congress MLAs Anil Bhardwaj and Vijay Lochav, and BJP MLA Sahib Singh Chauhan.

The approval comes in the wake of strong demands from ruling and opposition MLAs asking for a substantial raise in their salaries, pleading that the cost of living had gone up and it was not possible to "manage'' with the present salary structure.

Under the proposals approved on Monday, the Chief Minister would take home a salary packet of Rs. 49,000 a month, while her Cabinet colleagues would not be far behind with Rs. 47,000 per month. This would be a jump of Rs. 34,000 for the Chief Minister and Rs. 32, 000 for the Ministers. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker along with the Leader of the Opposition would draw the same salary as the Ministers.

While the common man continues to run from pillar to post railing against sharp increases in power and water charges, the MLAs have been insured against such an eventuality with the introduction of a new component of "power and water allowance". Under the proposal, the MLAs would get Rs. 2,000 as water and power allowance per month and Rs. 4,000 as telephone allowance. This would take the MLAs' salary to Rs. 35,000 per month in addition to Rs. 500 as dearness allowance per day they would get for attending the Assembly session and the meetings of the House committees.

The travel allowance of the MLAs would be increased from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 60,000 per year. They would also be entitled to a loan of Rs. 4 lakhs each for purchase of a vehicle at a low interest rate to be fixed by the Government.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the State Transport Department under which the financial component of the subsidy on bus passes under various categories including senior citizens and students would be borne by the Social Welfare Department.

The Cabinet also decided to convene a four-day winter session of the Delhi Assembly from December 19.

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