Odisha Assembly Forms Committee to Review Salary Hike Demands from MLAs

Odisha legislators from various parties have urged for a salary hike and better pensions for former lawmakers. This led to the assembly forming a committee to advise the state government on these issues. The discussion was initiated during Zero Hour by Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik, with support from Congress and BJP members.

Mallik highlighted the financial struggles faced by former MLAs due to rising costs of essentials and medical expenses. She stated, "They were struggling to manage, due to rising prices of essential items and medical expenses." Speaker Surama Padhy responded by announcing a committee led by BJP MLA Bhaskar Madei to address these concerns.

Committee's Role and Recommendations

The newly formed panel will propose salary increments and examine compensation practices in other states. According to sources, the committee will suggest appropriate salary increases for current MLAs and review pension payments for former legislators.

Mallik mentioned that a previous government committee had already recommended raising MLA salaries to Rs 2.5 lakh monthly and pensions for former MLAs to Rs 70,000. She also advocated increasing the MLA Local Area Development (LAD) fund from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore.

Support from Other Legislators

Deputy Chief of Opposition PK Deb supported Mallik's call for raising the LAD fund to Rs 5 crore. Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam agreed, stating that both salary and pension hikes should accompany the fund increase.

Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati expressed that his constituency's development demands could not be met with current funding levels. He also proposed increasing health insurance coverage for journalists to Rs 20 lakh, which received backing from some MLAs.

Calls for Immediate Action

BJP MLA Bhaskar Madei urged swift action on implementing the earlier committee’s recommendations during this assembly session. He stressed the importance of addressing MLA salary and pension issues promptly.

BJP MLA Sanatan Bijuli echoed concerns about low MLA salaries amid their expenses. She acknowledged the legitimacy of lawmakers' demands and instructed the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to bring the matter before the government.

The assembly's discussions reflect a collective push towards improving financial conditions for both current and former legislators in Odisha. The formation of a dedicated committee signifies a step towards addressing these pressing issues comprehensively.