law makers of Jharkhand and executive heads have been given their Diwali bonanza in such a way that they have emerged as the second highest paid legislators of the country. Each of 82 MlAs of Jharkhand Assembly would now be paid Rs 2.15 lakh per month which is close second to their Telangana counterparts pocketing Rs 2.5 lakh.
The decision in this regard was made on Tuesday by the Cabinet based on a report of the three-member committee constituted by the Assembly. The committee comprising BJP’s Radha Krishna Kishore and Nirbhay Sahabadi along with Marxist Coordination’s Arup Chatterjee had made the recommendation in March this year on the basis of inflationary figures and in the light of the 7th pay commission report.
As per revised salary, the legislators would be getting Rs 2,15,000 tax free income every month which includes their basic salary and host of other allowances. Their basic salary has been hiked from current Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 whereas biggest jump is seen in area allowance, ie 150 per cent. Overall, the income of the MlAs has gone up by 60 per cent which is also second leap after a similar revision was made just two years ago in 2015.
Salary of the Chief Minister has also seen addition of Rs 1.10 lakh every month. “As per the revised salary, the Chief Minister would be getting Rs 3 lakh per month followed closely by the leader of Opposition Rs 2.80 lakh and Ministers Rs 2.70 lakh. While the Assembly Speaker would get Rs 3,08,000,” said Additional Chief Secretary SKG Rahate on Tuesday. This apart, the Cabinet has also approved raising the pay of Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip and other Whips in the Assembly considerably.
When asked about the hike given, phenomenal in the eyes of many, especially when poor human development indices of the State are taken into consideration, a member of the panel justified the recommendations made . “MlAs are to undergo difficult times in managing affairs in their constituencies.
You can see inflation going up as our expenses are. The hike was called for,” he said.
Notably, the remuneration does not include Rs 35,000 per month paid for deploying a personal assistant to an MlA and Rs 25,000 for a peon. This apart, the MlAs are entitled to one time payments for purchasing computer and vehicle along with home loan up to Rs 30 lakh at bare minimum rate of four per cent per annum.