Govt hikes pay of Prez, Vice Prez, Governors

New Delhi, Jan 10 (UNI) The government today raised the emoluments of the President from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh a month, of the Vice President from Rs 40,000 to Rs 85,000 and of the Governors from 36,000 to Rs 75,000.

The hikes, approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, would have retrospective effect from January 1, 2007, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

Also, the pension of former Presidents was doubled from Rs 3,00,000 to Rs 6,00,000 a year.

The raise was necessitated by the fact that MPs were getting emoluments worth Rs 68,000 a month, much higher than the President and the Vice President.

Though the government had decided to raise the emoluments of the President and the Vice President about a year ago, the Cabinet approval had been delayed in view of the elections to the two constitutional offices, Mr Dasmunsi said.

Jammu and Kashmir has been asked to take necessary measure to raise the emoluments of the state Governor suitably.

UNI SN RP RN1420