MPs have their way, get further hike in perks

Agencies
Bellevision Media Network

New Delhi, 23 August 2010: The pressure by Members of Parliament (MPs) over further increase in their salary and perks finally bore fruit on Monday. The Union Cabinet decided to increase the perks for MPs by Rs 10,000 more within 72 hours after agreeing to a three times raise in salary on Thursday.

 

The MPs will now get Rs 10, 000 in additional perks out of which Rs 5,000 will be as office allowance and Rs 5,000 as constituency allowance. There were protests by a large section of MPs despite a three-time increase in salary from Rs 16,000 to Rs 50,000.

 

Congress’ troubleshooter and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had earlier met Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav and some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders who were demanding further increase in the salaries.

 

 

After Monday’s increase a MP is going to cost Rs 1.6 lakh per month, which includes the basic pay of Rs 50,000, daily allowance of RS 2,000, constituency allowance of RS 45,000 and office allowance of Rs 45,000. The cost does not include the bunglow in Lutyens Delhi and other perks including free air and rail travel.

 

Each MP is entitled to 34 free air journeys to any place in India. Apart from the free air travel they also get unlimited free rail travel. All the MPs get free housing if they live in flats and pay a nominal rent for bungalows in Lutyens zone.

 

MPs can also use up to 50,000 units of free power worth Rs 1,80,000 per month and 4,000 kiloliters of water worth Rs 40,000. They can also claim road mileage at the rate of Rs 16 per km for travel from residences in Delhi and their constituencies to the airport.

 

Comparative salary (in rupees) of MPs from some developed countries and India.