Travelling allowance of Legislators hiked

Mumbai, Apr 17 (UNI) Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today hiked the travelling allowance of members to Rs six per km from the existing Rs five per km.

The bill to this effect was passed by the Lower House on the last day of the budget session here.

Introducing the bill, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Harshvardhan Patil, said "A member who travels by road for the purpose of attending a Session of the Legislative committee meeting is entitled to travelling allowance at the rate of Rs six per km for the journey undertaken by him." However, a member who resides at a place where the session is being held is paid travelling allowance at the rate of Rs five per km. The new rate will entail the cost of Rs 75 lakh per annum.

The minister said some members pointed out that the Railways had introduced Second Class air-conditioned compartments in almost all trains in place of First Class compartments. In view of this, they requested the government to consider payment of travelling allowance at one and half times the rate of Second Class air conditioned fare for the journey by rail instead of first class fare.

Before passage of the bill, some members said the bill should be withdrawn as the image of politicians and political parties had declined.

Narsayya Adam of CPM criticised the increase in allowance when the State government had ignored the plight of Anganwadi School staff and over eight lakh domestic workers in the State.

Mr Patil said that when the bill to raise salaries and other perks of legislators was passed last year, Mr Adam had opposed it but availed all the benefits after passage of the bill.

Mr Gopinath Munde (BJP) said the bill should be withdrawn as the image of politicians had taken a beating in public eye and passage of this bill would send out another wrong message.

Mr Munde's suggestion was supported by Vilaskaka Patil (Congress).

Mr Munde said he felt legislators should be categorised in a system in which their allowances would get hiked automatically.

Shobha Phadanvis (BJP) said most of the trains do not have first class. ''Even State government officers travel by Second Class air condition. Are we legislators lesser than them?'' she asked.

UNI