Gujarat assembly approves increase in salary and perks of MLAs

Gandhinagar: Motion for increase in salary and perks of members elected to Gujarat assembly was passed unanimously today. This is first increase in salary of MLAs after year 2005.

As of now each MLA of Gujarat gets Rs 70,727 per month salary. With effect of today’s decision they are all set to get Rs 1,16,316 per month. Similarly, Chief Minister, each minister, chief whip, deputy whip will get Rs 1.32 lakh salary instead of Rs 86,804 per month at present.

The assembly house has also unanimously approved hike in perks, such as the postal expense perk of leader of opposition which shall be Rs 10,000 now instead of Rs 1,000 per month at present.

The Daily allowance of the MLAs has been raised to Rs 1000 from Rs 200 (five times increase) and the monthly postal allowance of LoP (with status of cabinet rank minister) has been increased ten times to Rs 10000 from Rs 1000.

The hike would be effective from the back date of December 22, 2017.

While supporting the bill Congress MLA Dhawalsinh Patel also said that the unprecedented hike in petroleum items should also be taken in to consideration.

Motion for increase in salary and perks was moved under rule 44. It was not in house’s agenda.

Minister of State Pradipsinh Jadeja said MLAs in Gujarat were getting lesser salary compared to many other states. Sharing a selective list he said monthly salary was Rs 2.91 lakh in Uttarakhand, Rs 2.50 lakh in Talangana, Rs 2.25 lakh in Jharkhand, Rs 2.13 lakh in Maharashtra, Rs 2.10 lakh in Himachal, Rs 1.95 lakh in Uttar PRadesh Rs 1.65 lakh in Haryana, Rs 1.60 lakh in Jammu & Kashmir, Rs 1.34 lakh in Delhi, Rs 1.30 lakh in Assam, Rs 1.30 lakh in Rajasthan and Rs 1.15 lakh in Punjab.

Congress MLA Niranjanbhai while supporting the motion also added need to reduce taxes on petrol and diesel. Congress MLA Lalit Vasoya said salary should be increased to Rs 2 lakh per month. He said he uses his salary for poor patients of his constituency area. Congress MLA Dhavalsinh Zala said, it’s not about salary, but about respect of MLA. When one MLA visits district collector, he is not given respect because his salary is lower than district collector. Increased salary would make status equal to bureaucrats. Congress MLA Ambrish Der said more salary will make MLAs offering more service to people. Congress MLA Virji Thummar said, increase is in tune with inflation. Actually it should be equal to Principal Secretary. Thummar said one MLA is representative of 2,75,000 people. This increase has happened after a gap of 14 years. BJP MLA Madhu Shrivastav said, people visit MLAs daily in large number and they are catered tea, MLA would also visit villages with aides which would involve spending. BJP MLA Harsh Sanghvi said, MLA’s personal assistant salary was Rs 3,000 but none would be ready to do that job for Rs 3,000 per month. It is good that it has been now increased to Rs 20,000. Sanghvi said he takes this step positive attempt in order to see that people will be served in better way. Some Congress MLAs including Chandrika Bariya, Sukhram Rathwa, BJP MLA Pradip Parmar ran away from media cameras to avoid giving reaction on pay hike. Congress MLA Dudhat said he was not present in the assembly when this matter was taken up but he would not take salary hike benefit till some good decision was not taken for farmers.

Salary increase will add around Rs 72 lakh burden monthly on state exchequer and nearly Rs 10 crore annually.

In short

– Hike in salary is 25% of basic salary.

– Hike has been approved through Gujarat Assembly members, speaker, deputy speaker, ministers and opposition leader salary and perks related law (ammendment) bill, 2018.

– With passing of bill today, MLAs will get salary equal to deputy secretary.

– Basic salary of MLA was Rs 56,100 while salary with perks was Rs 70,727. Now basic salary will be Rs 78,900 and with perks it will be Rs 1,16,316.

– Dearness allowance has been counted at Rs 5,516 instead of Rs 4,627. Telephone perk shall be Rs 7,000 instead of Rs 4,000. Personal assistant perk will be Rs 20,000 instead of Rs 3,000. Postal and other material perk is now Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 3,000 per month.

– Considering salary and perks hike, the MLAs are going to get Rs 45,589 additional ammount per month.

– Assembly speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, leader of opposition etc office bearers get 25% more salary compared to MLAs. Instead of Rs 70,125 basic salary, they shall get Rs 98,500 basic salary. Composite perk shall be Rs 20,000 instead of Rs 7,000. Vehlcoe allowance will be Rs 7,000 instead of Rs 4,000. Dearness allowance shall be Rs 6,895 instead of Rs 5,679. Office bearers other than MLAs will get Rs 1,32,395 instead of Rs 86,804 per month. Thus they shall get additional Rs 45,591 per month.

– Increase in salary and perks will be effective from the date 22-12-2017.

– Daily allowance as per Assembly members salary and perks related rule 1960, section-4 shall be Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 200 at present.

– Leader of opposition will get Rs 10,000 per month postal expense instead of Rs 1,000 at present.

DeshGujarat