A parliamentary committee has recommended a steep hike in the salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament.
The Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament, headed by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath, has sought doubling of the salary of MPs from the existing Rs. 50,000 per month, increasing the pension of ex-MPs from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 35,000, and doubling the daily allowance of members when Parliament is in session, from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000.
In addition, it has sought facilities for “companions” in place of “spouses”, as many MPs are single.
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The panel has also responded positively to the ex-MPs, who appeared before the panel, and requested that their companions be also allowed to travel First Class on trains. Currently, companions and spouses are only entitled to second class tickets.
The panel has also recommended that ex-MPs be permitted to travel economy class by air five times a year. Sitting MPs are allowed to fly executive class around three dozen times a year.
Since MPs rank higher than the Cabinet Secretary in protocol, the panel suggested their privileges should match their status and also include healthcare benefits for married children of MPs.
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Sources said some of these recommendations have already been submitted to the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, while others will be finalised at the next meeting on July 13.
However, there were some dissenting voices. The CPI(M)’s K.N. Balagopal suggested that the salary structure of MPs should be decided through an independent mechanism. Janata Dal (United)’s K.C. Tyagi also said an independent body should be constituted to decide the salary and perks of MPs keeping in mind the benefits announced by various boards and commissions appointed for revision of wages.
The changes suggested come in the wake of a memorandum signed by 40 MPs cutting across party lines seeking an enhancement of all emoluments.
They had said that they wanted their salaries to be at least on a par with Secretaries to the Government of India.