Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051008790400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Pension hike for former MLCs, MLAs

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The pension of former Members of the Legislative Council and MLAs will be increased.

Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan announced in the Assembly on Wednesday that former MLCs and MLAs were getting Rs. 6,000 a month. This would be enhanced to Rs. 7,000. The hike would mean an additional expenditure of Rs.1.15 crore.

Similarly, annual medical expenses had been enhanced from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000, costing the Government an additional Rs.10 lakh.

More beneficiaries

He said pension was also being given to families of former MLCs and MLAs who died after April 1, 1999. This had been extended to those who died before the date too. Families of 350 former legislators would be eligible and the move would cost Rs.1.26 crore.

Stay at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi would be cheaper by 50 per cent for former MLAs. Mr. Anbazhagan said following representation from a member, the Government had decided to give Rs. 2 lakh to the wife of former MLA K. R. Nallasivam. His wife would also be given Rs. 3,000 a month.

Daily allowance

The daily allowance of MLAs had been enhanced from Rs. 400 to Rs. 500, entailing an additional annual expenditure of Rs. 20 lakh to the Government. MLAs' rail allowance had been hiked from Rs.15,000 a year to Rs. 20,000, costing the Government an additional Rs.12 lakh annually.