If Telangana can do it, can Andhra Pradesh be far behindIJ The answer is no. Close on the heels of Telangana Assembly effecting a hefty hike in the salary and other sops of its members, Andhra Pradesh Assembly also passed a similar Bill on Wednesday giving its members a steep hike.
The salary of the members of the State Assembly and council has been increased from `95000 to `125000 and accommodation allowance from Rs 25000 to `50000. Railway travel allowance was also increased from `98700 to `100,000. They can get this cash in lieu of the railway coupons.
AP Assembly passed the Payment of Salaries and Pension and Removal of Disqualification Act 1953 amendment Bill on Wednesday just before the Budget Session was adjourned cine die.
Under the amended act, the loan and housing advance for the members have also been increased from `1 million to `2 million. Pension of the former members was increased from `25000 to `50000 per month. This will also be available to the spouse of an expired member.
The amendment Bill was introduced on the basis of recommendations of Committee of Amenities last week that the salaries, allowances and pension of the members were meager and their upward revision was necessary.
However, the move faced flak from the main Opposition YSRCP which demanded that the hike was too high. leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy demanded that the payment hike should be rolled back partially but it was not accepted by the House.
Telgana Assembly had also increased the salary and other allowances of its members by 260 per cent last week.