CHENNAI: Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan on Friday announced a hike in salaries of MLAs and Ministers.

Responding to Members' plea for a hike in their salary and allowances in the Assembly, Mr. Anbazhagan said salaries of the Speaker and Ministers would be increased from Rs.18,000 to Rs.22,000 while that of the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Speaker and Government Whip would go up from Rs.17,500 to Rs.21,500. The salary of MLAs would increase from Rs.16,000 to Rs.20,000.

At this stage, Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India made it clear that they were opposed to the increases in principle.

Appropriation Bill

The Tamil Nadu Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2006, moved by Mr. Anbazhagan, was passed in the Assembly without discussion on Friday.

Replying to the discussions on demands for grants for State Legislature, Governor and Council of Ministers, Finance Department and Planning, Development and Special Initiative Department and Pension and other Retirement Benefits,

Mr. Anbazhagan allayed the apprehensions of the Opposition on increase in the budgetary deficit.

He told the Assembly that the deficit would not go out of control in view of the additional Central grants and devolution of tax revenue to the State.

The Tamil Nadu Fiscal Responsibility Act also provided for conducting periodical monitoring and review and placing the outcome in the Assembly, he pointed out.

Mr. Anbazhagan said the Government had decided to relax conditions for issuance of old age pension for destitute widows and deserted wives.

They would be eligible even if supported by a son, or sons aged 18 or above, he added.

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