Legislators in Odisha have sought a salary increment along with better pensions for ex-legislators. Their demands have resulted in the formation of a committee created by the Assembly to advise the Odisha government on MLAs’ salary issues.
The issue about salary hikes of MLAs was put up for discussion during Zero Hour in the Odisha Assembly. The MLAs have been drawing attention to how their salaries have not kept up with the rising inflation. Essential items and medical expenses are reportedly making life tough for the MLAs.
The new committee formed for this purpose will study the compensations of ministers in other states before proposing any hike. This committee will also re-examine the pensions of former legislators.
Earlier, a committee had suggested hiking the salaries of legislators to Rs 2.5 lakh per month and pensions of former legislators to Rs 70,000.
Suggestions have also been made to hike MLA Local Area Development (LAD) fund by Rs 2 crore, that is, from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore.
In 2022, after 11 years, Delhi MLAs were granted an increase in salary. The Central government approved the proposed salary increment for the MLAs of Delhi following which they began earning Rs 90,000 instead of Rs 54,000. Their basic salary was increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000. The other reimbursements are paid to Delhi legislators in the form of electricity and water bills, medical treatment, allowance for attending assembly sessions daily (not more than 40 days a year) and House committee meetings, pension, family pension, yearly travel and monthly reimbursement for data-entry operators.
