SP demands salary hike for MPs

A demand for hiking the salary of parliamentarians was raised in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu assured he will bring the matter to the government's notice.

Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal raised the issue and was supported by other members across party lines.

"A Parliamentary Committee under former member Yogi Adityanath had suggested a salary hike. It was suggested that the hike should be added to the Seventh Pay Commission and the salary of members should be one rupee more than the Cabinet secretary," Agarwal said.

Agarwal said that even media persons got more salary than parliamentarians and the House should not be worried about media criticism.

"Its a serious issue. As a former Parliamentary Affairs Minister I have studied it. I will bring the issue to the notice of Leader of the House. It will be addressed at appropriate time," Naidu said.

The matter was also raised in the last monsoon session of Parliament and even in 2016 when the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of MPs had made a recommendation to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

It was proposed to double MPs salaries.

The Salaries and Allowances of members are governed by the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954.

As per Act, the monthly salary of each parliament member is Rs 50,000 during their entire term in office.

They get a daily allowance of Rs 2,000 per day for each day of residence on duty and daily allowance is paid only when a member signs the register maintained for the purpose.

Besides, they get a constituency allowance of Rs 45,000 per month and an office expense allowance of Rs 45,000 per month.

Out of these, Rs 15,000 for meeting expenses on stationery items and postage, and Rs 30,000 is paid by the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariat to the persons as may be engaged by a member for obtaining secretarial assistance provided that one such person must be computer literate as certified by the member.

--IANS

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