Patna, March 31: The Bihar government has effected over three times hike in the salary of legislators and increased their allowances with effect from April 1.
The decision, taken yesterday at a cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, would entail an additional burden of Rs 34 crore on the state exchequer, principal secretary in the Cabinet and Coordination Department Ravikant told reporters here.
As per the revised pay structure, the members of the two houses of the state legislature will now draw a salary of Rs 25,000 per month as against Rs 8,000 per month they drew last year, he said.
The legislators would also receive constituency allowance of Rs 25,000 per month, up from Rs 12,000, besides stationary allowance of Rs 8,000 per month, increased from Rs 2,000 per month. Each MLA will get an additional allowance of Rs 15,000 per month, up from Rs 10,000 per month, for payment to their assistants, he said.
The MLAs will also get Rs 50,000, up from Rs 25,000, as one time furniture allowance.
The cabinet also raised the hospitality allowance of the chief minister from Rs 15,000 per month to Rs 18,500 per month, while the cabinet ministers will be entitled to a similar allowance of Rs 18,000 per month as against Rs 14,500 per month earlier.
Ministers of state will receive an allowance of Rs 17,500 per month from existing Rs 14,000 per month, he said.
Ex-legislators will draw a pension of Rs 15,000 per month as against Rs 6,000 per month they received earlier, he said.
–PTI