There is news item that cabinet is going to approve salary and allowances for the MPS, as if they were poorly paid. Presently the MPs are being given following , I am writing proposed new amount in each sub head:
- They get a salary or Rs 50,ooo per month, proposed is Rs 100,000 pm.
- Daily allowance Rs 2000 per day for attending parliament, paid only when the MP signs the register maintained for this purpose.
- Constituency allowance or Rs 45,000 pm, proposed is Rs 60,000 pm.
- Rs 15,000 pm for expenses on stationary items,postage etc. In today’s time this expense look passe, as communication is through E mail and other social media.
- Rs 30,000 pm for their personal staff, proposed is Rs 50,000 pm.
- MP can avail 34 single air fare journeys during a year with spouse or any other relatives. The spouse can travel only 8 times a year to meet MP. Any journey performed by spouse/relative shall be added in computing 34 journeys. A MP can travel (free) by 1st AC class or Executive class by Rail, and one of his staff can travel by AC 2 tier. The spouse is free to travel by 1st AC or Executive class during parliament session to Delhi 8 times a year max.
- MP gets an rent free flat or hostel accommodation through the term of office in Delhi.
- MP is allowed to get 3 telephones lines, but one should be at Delhi( MTNL/BSNL), each line is having limit of 50,000 free calls per year, can be clubbed together for 150,000 calls. In addition to this one mobile connection of MTNL and second of any private operator. The bills of the calls from these mobiles is adjusted against 150,000 free calls.
- Water and Electricity- MP is entitled to free 4000KL of water and 50,000 units of Electricity per annum beginning from 1st Jan every year, for his residence at Delhi.
- Medical facility- MP gets the same medical facilities as available to Class I officers of Central Civil Services.
- Furniture and furnishing allowance- within the ceiling of Rs 60,000 for durable furniture and Rs 15,000 for non durable furniture, washing of sofa covers and curtains every 3 months. Proposed increase is Rs 100,000 from the present limit of 75,000.
- Purchase of Computers- Under this scheme for purchase of computers, Loksabha MP can purchase computer equipment up to Rs 200,000.
- Pension-Mp gets a pension of Rs 20,000 per month. If the MP has served for more than five years, he/she gets additional pension Rs 1500 pm foe every additional year. The spouse is entitled for 50% of pension after MP’s death. This is proposed to be increased to Rs 35,000 pm.
- Taxability- For the purpose of Income Tax the salary and allowances received by members are taxed under the head ” income from other sources’ and therefore no tax is deducted at source. Allowances are exempt from income tax.
So friends, you can see from above how much we are paying to our elected MPs. From the above one item that should be revised is telephone allowance, now a days any mobile networks gives you unlimited local and STD calls in Rs 500 per month max, then why is govt paying for free 150,000 calls per year, which is amounting to 12,500 calls per month, almost 415 calls per day,( this was fixed when one MTNL/BSNL call was for Rs 1.20 for 3 minutes) That means 1245 minutes per day, which is almost 20 hrs per day on phone. It only means this facility was being misused. In my opinion MP should be paid for max 3 mobile ie Rs 1500 per month on this account.
Secondly, why their increment is not linked to their performance. Presently it looks like we are paying their salaries and allowances for shouting and disrupting parliament proceedings. There salary and allowances should be linked to their performance/attendance in parliament. There are some MPs, who are not even present for 15% or even less time in parliament, when it is in session. Except for their daily allowance of Rs 2000, we are paying full salary with all the allowances, this is totally unfair to exchequer and Taxpayer.
Leaving aside the increase in pension amount which is being paid to ex MPs, the increase which is proposed is Rs 110,000 per month for each MP. With strength of 795 MPs (Loksabha+Rajya Sabha) ie Rs Rs 8.75 Cr per month or Rs 105 crore per annum. This is only the increase, if we calculate the total amount which is being paid to them is enormous. I do not know whether spending so much amount on every MP is justified .
So friends, what are your views on this matter, please let me know.