In a bid to hike hefty salary and perks to Delhi’s MlAs, the Arvind Kejriwal Government on Thursday passed five Bills in the Delhi Assembly. According to the Bills, a hike has been proposed in the MlAs’ salary and allowances from Rs54,000 per month to Rs2.10 lakh. This means the Bill has proposed four time hike in their salary and facilities. Similarly, Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker and leader of Opposition’s salary and allowance has been proposed from Rs1.25 lakh per month to Rs2.75 lakh.
The Delhi Government will now send the Bill to the Centre. If it is approved, then basic salaries of legislators will rise from current Rs12,000 to Rs50,000 and their overall monthly package will be around Rs2.1 lakh as against existing Rs54,000 -among the highest in the country.
As per provisions of the Bill, the basic salary of a Minister will be Rs80,000 which is currently Rs20,000.
Overall the hike proposed is two-and-a-half fold.
After every 12 months, their basic salary would be increased up to Rs5,000 during each term of the Assembly. The Bill also proposes the increase in constituency allowance from Rs18,000 to Rs50,000 per month. The MlA would be entitled to get Rs25,000 per month as MlA’s constituency office rent and related utilities allowances. The said amount would be given to those whose offices are allotted by public agencies or their own residences. Besides, it also proposes Rs one lakh to be paid to each MlA for furnishing their constituency office for each term of office. They would be given Rs 60,000 as one time allowance for buying MlAs constituency office equipment for each term of office.
The Bill also proposes Rs one lakh as one time allowances for purchase of laptop, personal computer, printer, mobile handsets. The daily allowances of MlAs for attending or sitting in the House or its committees or for attending any other business connected with the House, is proposed to be increased from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000.
It also proposes hike in pension from Rs7,500 per month for the first term of his/her membership and additional of Rs1,000 per month for every successive year, to Rs15,000 per month as monthly pension.
As far as Ministers are concerned, they would be entitled for Rs30,000 per month for their secretarial staff in the constituency. The Minister would be entitled for Rs12 lakh for purchase of conveyance which shall be payable within his/her term as MlA while their salary is proposed to raise Rs eight thousand after every 12 months.
Introducing the five Bills related to salaries, allowances and pensions of MlAs, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said for some time there has been persistent demand from the MlAs for the increase in their salaries and perks/facilities, having regard to the increase in the price index.
“It has also been pointed out that salaries, perks, facilities of Ministers, Speakers, Deputy Speaker, leader of Opposition and Chief Whip are a bit inadequate which should be upgraded and enhanced. The Bill proposes to increase the salaries, allowances and other facilities of the MlAs so that they work effectively in their fields,” Sisodia said. Interestingly, with only three members in the House, the BJP has opposed the hike.
It would be pertinent to mention that AAP Government had not taken prior approval from the Centre before tabling the Bill which is financial in nature.
In July, a group of AAP MlAs had demanded a significant hike in salary, arguing their earnings were not enough to run their family and offices. The last revision of MlAs’ salary was made in September 2011, which was 100 per cent by then Sheila Dikshit Government, citing inflation and the rise in the cost of living.
The Delhi Cabinet has earlier approved the recommendations of the committee of the Delhi Assembly for salaries and allowances. Earlier, the Delhi Assembly had set up a committee of experts to prepare to bring a proposal for hike in the salary and allowances of MlAs, Ministers, Speaker, leader of Opposition and Chief Whips.