They may be singing in different tunes and hell bent on stalling proceedings of the House session after session, our law makers are like ‘friend-in-need’ when it comes to their own gains!
A similar scene was witnessed in the Assembly on Tuesday when after its first half got washed out due to seemingly routine sloganeering by the JMM members Champai Soren, Jagarnath Mahto, Sita Soren, Dasrath Gagrai and few others, who descended into well every time Speaker Dinesh Oraon resumes the proceeding, the legislators cutting across party line came together to hike their salary and allowances.
“Price of petrol and diesel has gone up along with that of other essential commodities. Pay scale of the legislators is insufficient to meet the expenses. I request the House to consider a proposal for hiking the salary and allowances,” proposed BJP chief whip Radha Krishna Kishore as soon as the House resumed at 2.20 pm after long adjournment.
This looked like a calculated move by the members as the Speaker called on Congress’ Alamgir Alam, JMM’s Stephen Marandi and a few others to present their opinion, where there was never the second one!
“Salary and perks should be revised since it was done about two years ago. A committee of the House members should be formed to consider this,” said the Congress legislative party leader whereas JMM’s senior most member Stephen Marandi also seconded him.
Notable submission came from Marxist-Coordination’s Arup Chatterjee who justified the demand citing inflation and subsequent rise done to Government servants that included recent implementation of the 7th pay panel recommendations.
Most important gesture was from the JMM members who otherwise were shouting from the rooftop, remained silent supporters while the lucrative demand was played out the House. Not a single word of protest was heard until the Speaker announced forming a five-member panel of MlAs to recommend revising their own salary and perks.
Amid all this the lone voice of dissent came from CPI’s Raj Kumar Yadav. “I am not in the favour of the members demanding hike in their payments in a situation when sahias, labourers and other working class are working on meager pay.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy, however, used the occasion to pass a lesson to the disruptive members. “It would send a wrong signal out in the people that the members do not run the House but want pay hike. This should at least ignite the conscience,” he said.
But till then, the chuckling members had their say. “Salary of the members should be reconsidered in the light of 7th pay commission recommendations made. The House is unanimous and following the procedures of the Assembly a five-member committee would be formed. The decision would rest on the report submitted by the committee,” said the Speaker. Member so the panel is likely to be named soon.
A member of the House is paid nearly Rs 1.25 lakh per month as his/her salary, allowances and perks such as vehicle, assistant, peon, office and travelling. Rs 30,000 is paid as salary, Rs 20,000 constituency allowance, Rs 20,000 for visitors, Rs 5,000 for medical and Rs 1,000 for newspapers and magazines. This apart, Rs 1,500 is daily allowance when on tour.
Rs 1 lakh is every year is paid for mobile and telephone, Rs 1.5 lakh for rail-air fair and Rs 70,000 to purchase laptop. Two staff in the form of assistance and peon are paid Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 per month. The members are also entitled to vehicle and home loan on lower interest. Above all, the amount paid to the members is absolutely tax free.