MLAs hike own salaries, burden treasury further TNN | Aug 8, 2012, 06.04AM IST PORVORIM: The state exchequer will have to bear an additional financial liability of around 6.5 crore per annum following the government's proposal to increase salaries and benefits of MLAs and ministers.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday introduced the Goa Salaries and Allowances of Minister (Amendment) Bill, 2012 and the Goa Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of the Legislative Assembly (fourth amendment) Bill, 2012. The bills seek to increase the salaries and other benefits of the chief minister and MLAs. According to the amendments, the chief minister will now draw a salary and sumptuary allowance of 45,000 from the existing 23,000, deputy chief minister 39,000 from the existing 16,500, a minister 33,000 from the existing 15,000 and minister of state or deputy minister 27,000 from the existing 10,000. The bills seek to enhance the monthly salary, sumptuary allowance and compensatory allowance by taking into consideration the price index and the cost of living, both of which have increased considerably, it is noted. The bill for MLAs seeks to increase the salary of legislators from 5,000 to 10,000 and daily allowance during the period on duty from 1,000 to 2,000. The amount of 750 payable to member on duty lieu of the accommodation provided to him is increased to 1,500. The government has also proposed to amend Section 11 so as to increase the pension payable to a member for the first year to 15,000 from 8,000 and every successive year of his membership to 2,000 from 1,250 , subjected to a maximum of 70,000. The bill also proposes to increase repayable motor car allowance to 15 lakh from 6 lakh, constituency allowance will go up to 90,000 from 55,000 and petrol/diesel admissible to a member per month for the use of his personal vehicle will increase to 300 litres from 250 litres. The amendment will allow MLAs to appoint not more than five persons, which include one personal secretary, one LDC, two drivers and one peon.
