Date:19/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/19/stories/2008071950040100.htm

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Increase in MLAs’ salary proposed

Special Correspondent

Assembly refers Bills to Subject Committee
Revision of pension for former MLAs mooted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Assembly on Friday referred to its Subject Committee a Bill seeking to increase the salaries and allowances of its members and another proposing a hike in pension for former MLAs.

The Bills, amending the existing ones on the respective topics, presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Vijayakumar, were sent to the panel with the unanimous assent of the House without discussion.

For Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Whip, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the proposal is to increase constituency allowance from Rs.2,500 to Rs.7,500 a month. Their salary will remain unchanged at Rs.1,000 plus dearness allowance per month.

For road travel they will receive Rs.8 (Rs.6 now) per kilometre covered, in addition to 50 paise per kilometre as incidental allowance. For overnight halts, they will receive Rs.600 (Rs.500 now) as daily allowance. If the halt is outside the State, the daily allowance will be Rs.700 (Rs.500 now). For travel by train or air, they are eligible for actual fare.

For MLAs, the constituency allowance will go up from Rs.3,500 to Rs.5,000 a month. They will also receive not less than Rs.10,000 a month as travelling allowance. Irrespective of the distance travelled, they will receive Rs.6 per kilometre (Rs.4 now) for journeys by road within the State, in addition to a daily allowance of Rs.500 (Rs.400 now). For journeys outside the State, their daily allowance will be Rs.600 (Rs.400 now). Their free coupon eligibility for rail travel or for fuel for private vehicle is to be increased from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1,20,000 a year.

The maximum pension for former MLAs is to be revised to Rs.20,000 (Rs.17,500 now) a month. A person who had served as MLA for less than two years will get a pension of Rs.4,000 (Rs.2,500 now), two years Rs.4,500 (Rs.3,000 now), three years Rs.5,000 (Rs.3,500 now), four years Rs.5,500 (Rs.4,000 now) and five years Rs.6,000 (Rs.4,500 now).

For each additional year of his or her service, the pension will increase by Rs.500, subject to a maximum of Rs.20,000 a month (Rs.17,500 now).