A delegation had met PM Narendra Modi on Monday to request a pay hike (File photo)
Highlights
- The centre isn't likely to agree to lawmakers' demand of the pay hike
- PM Modi told MPs to help reduce the government's expenditure: sources
- A formal response from the PMO is still awaited: sources
The government isn't likely to agree to the huge pay hike the lawmakers are demanding. Sources say Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told a lawmakers' delegation, which met him with a petition that members should help the government cut down on expenditure.
A delegation, comprising all BJP members had met PM Modi on Monday to request a pay hike and an increase in the MP's allowance to develop their constituencies. Over 250 lawmakers had signed the petition.
A formal response from the Prime Minister's Office is awaited on the salary hike recommendation, which has been sanctioned by a group of ministers and submitted to the cabinet.
For MPLADS development fund, the demand is raise it from the current Rs 5 crore to Rs 25 crore a year.
The government is still weighing its options, said sources. Calling it a "very valid demand" BJP's Janardan Singh Sigriwal said the decision depends on the strength of the exchequer.
Notwithstanding the negative response from the Prime Minister's Office, there seems to be a consensus across party lines that lawmakers need a pay hike.
"If the 7th Pay Commission has increased government employees' salaries, we should also get a hike," said Mr Sigriwal, a BJP lawmaker who represents the Maharajganj constituency in Bihar.
"The salary is quite low and the expenses are quite high. People from our constituencies come to Delhi and expect us to help them, including financially. How does one do that?" said Ranjeeta Ranjan, Congress lawmaker from Bihar.
RJD lawmaker Prem Chand Gupta said lawmakers, who don't have any other source of earning, often find it "difficult to manage personal and professional expenses".
The Left says lawmakers shouldn't decide their own pay. "There should be a committee of outsiders to fix what should be the pay hike," said CPM's Sitaram Yechury.
If the pay hike is approved, the monthly basic salary of a lawmaker will double to a lakh. Besides, 100% raise will be granted as constituency allowance and salaries of their office staff. The annual furniture allowance will double to 1, 50,000 and monthly pensions for former lawmakers will rise from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000.