Legislators to get a salary hike soon

“Officials do not give any respect to us because we get less salary. They enjoy more salary and perks while we stand nowhere in comparison. They thus take the liberty to ignore us,” Khanna said,and demanded that not only should the legislators’ salary be raised,it should also be linked to the price index.

Responding,Khan stated that he was also of the opinion that the salary of legislators should be increased. “Our legislators are getting very little salary. In foreign countries,the legislators get good salaries,well-maintained offices and efficient staff. Our salary is nothing compared to them,” he stated. He assured the House that the issue was under the government’s consideration and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will soon take a decision. “There will be a salary hike as government is serious about it,” he stated.

Khanna,however,said that he feels ashamed when it is said that legislators are increasing their salary themselves. “Give this authority to someone else,but increase our salary,” h added.

Khan said that he is not afraid of media reports on legislators’ salary hike. “Let them write anything,but we will increase the salary,” he said to the thumping of desks.

Pramod Tiwari of the Congress said the government should also consider increasing the MLA’s Development Fund and allotting handpumps to legislators.

At present,a legislator gets Rs 8,000 per month as salary,Rs 22,000 as constituency allowance,Rs 10,000 as medical allowance,Rs 10,000 as secretary allowance,Rs 6,000 as telephone allowance,Rs 250 daily as Jan Sewa allowance,and Rs 500 as daily allowance for attending House and committee meetings.

Besides,the legislatsors get a furnished house in Lucknow. Every legislator is also entitled to coupons worth Rs 2 lakh every year for rail and air travel. Of this,Rs 8,000 every month can be spent on buying fuel for personal vehicle. Each legislator also gets a development fund of Rs 1.50 crore per year.

Raising another issue,BJP’s Satish Mahana said officials in districts “do not respond to our phone calls and letters”. He said the chief minister had written to officials for giving proper respect to legislators,“but still they don’t listen. Please do something and don’t just write a letter.” Khan replied: “We can only make requests to officers. What else can be done?”