The legislators cutting across party lines in the State Assembly on Saturday demanded a hike in their salary and other allowances.

They urged Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha to give a ruling directing the Government to hike their salary and allowances.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the members also demanded a raise in the pension and medical allowances of former MLAs.

BJP Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said the salary and allowances given to the MLAs and the pension and medical allowances given to former MLAs are not adequate.

The hike in salary of the MLAs was last made five years back in 2017. During this period, the prices of essential commodities and oil have increased manifold, he said.

Majhi said the salary paid to the MLAs is less than that of the lawmakers in other States.

He said an MLA in Odisha gets less than Rs one lakh including allowances which is not adequate while the MLAs of other States draw higher salary and allowances like in Karnataka (Rs 2. 5 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 2.31 lakh) Delhi (Rs 2.10 lakh) and Uttarakhand (Rs 3.25 lakh).

Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the salary of an MLA in Odisha is less than the salary of MLAs of several States, including Goa, a small State. While the salary and allowances of an MLA are Rs 2.20 lakh in Goa, it is less than Rs one lakh in Odisha.

He requested the Speaker to give a ruling to increase the salary and allowances of MLAs besides pension and medical allowances of former MLAs.

His party colleagues Suresh Chandra Routray, Santosh Singh Saluja endorsed his views.

BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy said the salary and allowances should be hiked as per the price index and should be raised considering the situation in the State.

Independent MLA Makaranda Muduli also echoed the same demand.

The Speaker said he would advise the Government to consider the demand raised by the members.