After MPs’ bonanza, MLAs await windfall

The MPs’ salary hike has given a fresh impetus to the long-standing demand of MLAs for a wage rise. In Maharashtra, legislators made a demand for almost doubling their salary during the recently-concluded monsoon session.

But chief minister Ashok Chavan left the issue without resolution owing to possible public outcry in the face of increasing economic hardship. However, in the winter session, to be held in December, he may have to give in to the demand.

The matter has been raised at least five times since 1999, when the last salary hike for MLAs took effect. Though the salary allowance committee, comprising 12 members and headed by the finance minister, in its latest report suggested a nearly two-fold hike, the proposed bill has been deferred to the next session.

MLAs and MLCs get salary and allowances to the tune of Rs44,000 per month, excluding perks and the salaries of personal assistants (PAs). The break-up is: basic pay Rs2,000, mileage allowance Rs25,000, telephone allowance Rs8,000, stationery and postage allowance Rs7,500, and consolidated allowance Rs1,500.

A PA’s salary is Rs8,000. The perks are: sitting allowance of Rs500 per day during an assembly session, 20 free air journeys within the state and 4 to Delhi, and first-class rail travel up to 30,000 km. Fuel allowance for car travel is Rs6 per km. Allowance for travel by sea or river is Rs250 per km.

The salary committee has suggested a hike in basic pay to Rs4,000 and mileage allowance by Rs40,000.

It has also suggested an increase in the number of free air journeys.

“The MLAs raised the salary issue again, following the committee submitting its recommendations. But in the wake of inflation, the government decided to postpone the matter to the winter session — to be held in December,” said an official from the state legislature.

However, the official said, every year some allowance or the other is hiked for the MLAs. “Even in the monsoon session, the local area fund was raised to Rs1.5 crore from Rs1 crore. Last year, PA’s salary was increased to Rs8,000 from Rs5,000. The number of air trips was increased the previous year.”