The Hindu : Front Page : Left walkout over MPs' salary bill

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Saturday, Aug 28, 2010
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Left walkout over MPs' salary bill

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Friday paved the way for increasing three-fold the salary of the MPs from Rs.16,000 to Rs.50,000 a month, and doubling the daily, constituency and office expense allowances.

When the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2010, adopted by the House, becomes an Act, it will be implemented with retrospective effect from May 18, 2009, when the 15 {+t} {+h} Lok Sabha was constituted.

The Left parties opposed the Bill and wanted the government to work out a mechanism to fix the salaries and allowances. It was not good for MPs to increase their salaries when the people were suffering due to inflation and rising prices of essential commodities. Later the Left MPs staged a walkout.

Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani wanted the government to come out with an independent transparent mechanism before the monsoon session ends on Tuesday, as there was already a four-year delay in setting up such a committee. The open demand for better pay by MPs was “not ideal.”

Replying to the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said there was need for setting up a mechanism for revision of members' salary and pension. But wider discussions were required for that and it would be sent to a parliamentary committee.

The increase in the salaries of MPs and pension to former MPs would cost the government an additional Rs.103.76 crore every year. Besides, there will be a one-time expenditure of Rs.118 crore on payment of arrears of salary and pension. The increase in the daily, constituency and office expenditure allowances will cost the government an additional Rs. 38.50 crore every year.

Additional privileges

Under the Bill, the MPs will get additional privileges in rail and air travel. Now, their spouses can travel any number of times in the first class air-conditioned coach or executive class in any train from the residence of the MPs to New Delhi and back. The spouses can also travel by air whenever Parliament is in session, subject to a maximum of eight trips a year.

The repayable advance for purchase of a vehicle will go up from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh with cheaper interest rate on the loan. The pension for former MPs will go up from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 20,000 a month.

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