Despite being a cash-strapped State, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Saturday passed a Bill increasing the annual allowances of Legislators by Rs 1.50 lakh.
The proposed hike would put an additional annual burden of Rs 1.99 crore on the State exchequer.
Rakesh Singha, the lone CPM member, opposed the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2019, saying the State is facing critical financial crisis. “If the Bill is passed, it will send a wrong signal. I will request the Chief Minister to withdraw the Bill,” he said.
The hike in travel allowances by air, train or taxi outside the State by the Ministers, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the legislators and former legislators along with families, is from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
Earlier, the hike in travel emoluments of the legislators was made on April 10, 2015, and in salary on April 7, 2016.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur introduced the three Bills — the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Himachal Pradesh) Amendment Bill, 2019, the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly’s and Deputy Speaker’s Salaries (Amendment) Bill, 2019, and the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2019, on Friday.
The Bills were passed with the thumping of tables both by the treasury and the Opposition benches.
Supporting the BJP Government for bringing the Bill, Congress member Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said salaries of Legislators should also be hiked simultaneously.
He said the handsome salary and allowances enabled Legislators to carry out their day-to-day affairs with honesty and dignity.
The enhancement of allowances has been made on the recommendation of the Members Amenities Committee of the Vidhan Sabha. The amendment is being made to the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Himachal Pradesh) Act, 2000.