In a startling move, the Delhi Assembly on Thursday approved a bill to increase the pay and perks of MLAs and ministers by almost four times. If the proposed bill is implemented, Delhi MLAs will earn almost Rs 50, 000 more than the prime minister. However, the bill has to be approved by the centre before it is implemented. According to the proposed hike, the basic salaries of legislators will rise from the current Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000, and allowances will raise the salary to around Rs 2.1 lakh as against the existing Rs 88,000.
Constituency allowance will be raised from Rs 18,000 to Rs 50,000 along with additional perks such as Rs 3 lakh as annual payout for travel, which includes foreign trips for the MLA and dependents.
An RTI reply in May, 2014 revealed that the prime minister draws a monthly salary of Rs 1.6 lakh which includes basic salary of Rs 50,000, a sumptuary allowance of Rs. 3,000, daily allowance of Rs. 62,000, and an MP allowance of Rs. 45,000
The hike was recommended by an independent committee headed by former secretary general of the Lok Sabha, PDT Achari which was formed on August 21, 2015 after some AAP MLAs complained of their inability to make ends meet.
BJP MLAs refrained from voting when the bill was tabled. The Delhi Assembly currently has 67 AAP MLAs and 3 BJP MLAs.
The leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said, "We will abstain from voting for this bill because we do not think this is the right time for it. Even if you have to introduce it, the increment needs to lowered."
The Aam Aadmi Party which came into the power riding on their common man agenda is likely to face further media scrutiny following this.
The Congress which does not have any representatives in the Delhi Assembly also spoke against it.
According to the proposed Bill, the basic salary of a Delhi minister will be Rs 80,000, almost 50 % more than that of a member of Parliament.
Currently, MPs are entitled to Rs 50,000 per month as salary, Rs 45,000 as constituency allowance, Rs 15,000 as office expenses and Rs 30,000 for secretarial assistance with a daily allowance of Rs 2,000.
In addition to the MPs are also reimbursed for 34 flight trips and unlimited rail and road travel for the year on official business.
AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha told The Times of India, “Our salaries finish in the first 10 days of the month. We have now added responsibilities of running a constituency office, paying staff and meeting social obligations. I have to maintain a vehicle for official work and the salary we are getting at present is just about sufficient to meet the expenses."