Assembly clears proposal to nearly triple legislators’ pay package

The monthly salary of legislators would be increased from nearly Rs 24,000 to almost Rs 84,000,besides an upgrade of their pension plans,medical reimbursement and conveyance fees.

The revised pay package introduces pension for former legislators,former members of the erstwhile Metropolitan Council of Delhi and those from the erstwhile Delhi State Legislative Assembly.

Before allowing a discussion on the proposal as soon as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit tabled it,Speaker Yoganand Shastri appealed to all the legislators to “not play politics” over the proposal. “We all know how much effort has been put in to have the proposal cleared by the Home ministry. I request all of you to approve the proposal in the current form,” he said.

But a few legislators,including Asif Mohammad Khan,Hasan Ahmad and Mukesh Sharma,said they wanted a few things — including water and electricity reimbursement — withdrawn to show solidarity with people “suffering” due to the recent power tariff hike.

But Dikshit said the reimbursements were not being forced on anyone,and those who wanted to forgo the facilities could simply not submit their power and water bills.

“Legislators who can afford it,and I repeat,those who can afford it,cannot avail of the facility. They can give the money to charity,” Dikshit said.