Punjab MLAs, ex-chief ministers to get more perks

According to the Bill, the MLAs would now get an additional compensatory allowance of Rs 1,000 which has been raised from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 per month. The constituency, stationery and postage allowance has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000, conveyance allowance from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per year, telephone reimbursement from Rs 30,000 to Rs 48,000 per year, house building advance from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh and car purchase loan from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3.0 lakh.

Pension of the former MLAs has also been hiked from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month plus dearnessallowance. The pension will increase at the rate of Rs 100 per every additional one year tenure.

Former chief ministers would now be entitled to salary, allowances and other perks which include a car, 250 litres of petrol per month, a driver and rent-free furnished accommodation.

They would also be provided with a telephone, free electricity upto Rs 1,500 per month and a staff of four persons which would include two assistants and two peons.

The other bills passed included the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 1998, the Punjab State Election Commission (Amendment) Bill 1998, the Punjab Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 1998, the Punjab Roads and Bridges Development Board Bill, 1998, the Punjab Excise (Amendment) Bill, 1998, the Punjab Education (Amendment) Bill, 1998, the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 1998, the East Punjab War Awards (Amendment) Bill, 1998 and the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Bill, 1998.