Anti-corruption body criticises proposed hike

Aizawl, Jan 19 (PTI) Aizawl-based anti-corruptionwatchdog, People''s Right to Information and Development ofMizoram (PRISM), came out strongly against the proposed hikein the pays and perks of the chief minister, speaker, deputyspeaker, ministers and legislators.

In a statement made here today, PRISM appealed to thepublic to oppose the proposed increase in the salaries of thepublic servants.

"With the per capita income of the state standing atRs 32,634, the proposed hike in the salaries of therepresentatives of the people is highly unreasonable," thestatement said.

According to the recommendations of the stateassembly expert committee chaired by the former speakerRokamlova, the basic pay of the chief minister, speaker,ministers, deputy speaker, ministers of state and deputygovernment chief whip would be hiked more than 50 per cent.

The committee recommended basic pay of Rs 90,000 forthe chief minister, Rs 85,000 for the speaker, Rs 70,000 forthe ministers, Rs 65,000 for the ministers of state and Rs50,000 for MLAs.

With other allowances, the chief minister would takehome Rs 1,20,000, the speaker Rs 1,15,000, the ministers Rs1,12,000 and MLAs Rs 85,000, the statement said.