MPs' threefold pay hike gets Lok Sabha clearance

New Delhi, Aug 28: Amid debate in political and public spheres over the salary hike of Members of the Parliament (MPs), the Lok Sabha on Friday, Aug 27 passed the bill to hike salaries of MPs by over three times.

The Salary, Allowance and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2010, provides threefold hike in basic salaries of the MPs times from Rs 16,000 to Rs 50,000 while doubling two of their key allowances, namely the daily allowance of members from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 and the constituency and office expense allowances from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000.

The bill also seeks to enhance pension of former members from Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000 with effect from the constitution of the present Lok Sabha on May 18, 2009.

The members of the house, who participated in the debate over the bill, demanded setting up an independent body to decide on their future pay.

Backed by other leaders, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani voiced the demand, saying, "There is a need for setting up a mechanism for revision of members' salary and pension. But wider discussions are required for that and it would be sent to a parliamentary committee."

In response to the debate, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said, "There is a need for setting up a mechanism for revision of members' salary and pension. But wider discussions are required for that and it would be sent to a parliamentary committee."

Taking account of the public opinion on the matter, Mr Bansal also noted, "There is growing cynicism about politicians among the people and therefore we need to take this issue of setting up mechanism for members salaries and pension revision to a committee for wider discussions."

OneIndia News