Delhi ministers, MLAs get a hefty salary hike

September 6, 2011 | Filed under: Your Opinion | Posted by: Disha Virk

On the final day of the monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly, the MLAs gave themselves a gold rush, hiking their salaries by more than double excluding enhanced medical benefits and outstation travel allowances (which shall be given additionally over and above their salary cheques !).
Legislators managed this gigantic pay hike, abducing inflation and increased cost of living (now that’s something really indigestibe…isn’t it ? ), whose salaries were last revised in 2007.

The Delhi Assembly passed the amendment Bill to effect the hike in absence of BJP legislators, who had been suspended for the rest of the session for creating chaos. The Bill, which was already approved by the Union Home Ministry in July, was nominated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The ministry had earlier shot down a proposal, which sought an unprecedented 300% hike in salaries.

As per government calculations,

An MLA who was earlier getting a salary of Rs. 22,000, will now earn Rs. 44,000 (sheerly doubled !)
- Other benefits and claims which will raise their earnings to Rs 82,000.
- Basic salary has doubled to Rs. 12,000, up from Rs, 6000.
- Daily Allowance of Rs. 500 (subject to a maximum of 40 days) has now gone up to Rs. 1000 for the same term.
- Constituency Allowance has been increased from Rs. 8000 to Rs. 18,000.
- Conveyance Allowance has been increased to Rs. 6000 from Rs. 4000.
- Telephone Reimbursement has been doubled from Rs 4000 to Rs 8000, and Electricity & Water Reimbursements have been doubled to Rs 4000 from Rs 2000.
- Travel reimbursement of actual expenditure annually has been enhanced to Rs. 50,000 from was Rs 35,000.
A minister who drew Rs 33,000 will now get Rs 68,000 (a total 100% hike !)
Other benefits and claims which will raise their earnings to over Rs. 1 lakh.

In a nation, where a bill like the Janlokpal Bill solely meant for the welfare of the country and its common man takes a batallion of seatings, discussions, debates etc., passing of this Mammoth-Salary-Hike Bill is a stark contrast ! It’s worth reckoning that such kinds of bills pass in a fraction of a second whereas any kind of bill which actually intents to any kind of development is rarely passed and that too after decades !