Fulfilling a long pending demand the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a hefty hike of over 50 per cent in the wages and allowances of the legislators. Besides, they are also entitled for free rail journey worth Rs 3.25 lakh per year.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced the hike in the wages and allowance of the law makers in the Vidhan Sabha while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohammad Azam Khan tables the bill which was adopted unanimously by voice vote. The legislators who were getting wages and allowances of around Rs 70,250 per month will now get around Rs 1,06,600. Similarly pension of the former legislators has been hiked.
This was the second hike in the legislators’ wages and allowances in the present regime. Earlier a similar hike was announced in 2013. According to Bill, the hike in wages is nominal – from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. But hike in monthly allowances is hefty. The Constituency allowances of the legislators have been increased from Rs 22,000 to Rs 30,000; Medical allowances from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000; Secretary allowance from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 and DA and legislative allowances respectively from Rs 750 per day to Rs 1000.
Monthly fuel (petrol/diesel) allowances have been raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. The legislators will also get Railway coupan of Rs 3.25 lakh per year against Rs 2.50 lakh while former legislators would get Rs 80,000 rail coupon per year. Till now this limit was Rs 60,000. Besides this, the legislators would get several other allowances which has been hiked by more than 100 per cent. The family pension of the ex-legislators has also been hiked to Rs 10,000 per month.
Meanwhile, another Bill was passed to amend the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Physically handicapped, dependent of freedom fighters and ex-servicemen) Act. Now the grand son and grand daughter would be eligible to get the family pension.