Across party lines, members of the Odisha Assembly demanded a raise in compensation on Saturday due to the rising cost of all necessities.
Across party lines, members of the Odisha Assembly demanded a raise in compensation on Saturday due to the rising cost of all necessities.
The BJP’s Mohan Majhi, the chief whip for the opposition, noted that the wages and travel expenses of lawmakers had previously been increased on September 13, 2017.
The income of MLAs “should also increase correspondingly as there has been a price escalation in the market,” he remarked.
The BJP member’s demand was backed by Congress whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, who asserted that parliamentarians in other states receive “far more than the amount received by the Odisha MLAs.”
He added that although MPs make frequent trips to attend different events, they are paid less overall.
According to Bahinipati, the ex-MLAs receive a pension of only Rs 30,000, which needs to be increased in light of inflation.
Suresh Routray, a Congress MLA, alleged that many former MLAs are having “trouble getting proper treatment” and that their financial situations are “precarious.”
“The administration should take into account their worry as well as the circumstance of the current MLAs,” he said.
Amar Prasad Satpathy, a member of the ruling BJD, stated that the salary, travel allowance, pension, and medical payment should be increased. He claimed that many sitting MLAs also experience “financial difficulties” but are unwilling to speak out.
A pay increase for MPs in Odisha was also demanded by independent MLA Makaranda Muduli.
Speaker B K Arukha urged the state government take their request into consideration as lawmakers from all parties expressed concern about their pay.
Five years ago, the state government increased the remuneration for MLAs and ministers by more than 50%, bringing the monthly salary for each legislator to Rs 1 lakh.
The last wage adjustment took place in 2011.
The chief minister’s and the assembly speaker’s salaries, however, continued to be just around Rs 1 lakh.
The speaker is entitled to receive Rs 97,500 per month, while the chief minister receives Rs 98,000.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Assembly passed a number of laws on Tuesday that resulted in raises for the chief minister, the opposition leader, ministries, and lawmakers.
The remuneration of the Chhattisgarh chief minister would increase after the increase from Rs 1.35 lakh to Rs 2.05 lakh per month, while that of the ministers will increase from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 1.90 lakh.
The Delhi Assembly passed proposals on July 4 that would have increased the salaries and benefits of its members by more than 66%. This was the first pay increase for the parliamentarians, who were among the lowest-paid in the nation, in 11 years.
Prasanta Patnaik