The Government today proposed to set up a Salary Commission to decide on ways and means to hike the salary and allowances of MPs. The move comes in the wake of an unprecedented debate on a Private Member bill on the pay and perks of MPs.Replying to the debate that had stretched for three weeks in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri today admitted that the facilities given to MPs ‘‘are not enough for fulfilling their duties. There is a need for a rethink on the issue.’’The government was ‘‘considering setting up a Salary Commission’’ to look into the matter, he assured the MPs. Pachauri said, ‘‘There is a need to set up an independent mechanism to go into the whole issue of salary, allowances and incentives given to MPs.’’ He, however, gave no time-frame for setting up the panel as ‘‘certain procedures need to be followed before such a panel is set up’’.But the Minister added that ‘‘the Government is totally committed’’ to the endeavour and ‘‘very soon’’ results would be seen.Pachouri said that the Government was in agreement with the view expressed at the all-party meeting convened by the Lok Sabha Speaker on March 23, that the salary and allowances of MPs were inadequate. He pointed out that the conveyance allowance of Rs 1 lakh was fixed in 1999, and the pension of Rs 3,500 per month in 2000.Following the assurance, Independent member Lalit Suri, withdrew the bill he had introduced three weeks back. When the bill was introduced, Express had reported it. Earlier, cutting across party lines, most members supported the bill. Some even contended that the meagre salary of Rs 12,000 led to corruption, as MPs had to often take care of the needs of their people in their constituencies.However, a few MPs, including Ram Jethmalani, opposed the bill on the ground that a member could not vote on a bill in which he had any financial or self- interest.
