New Delhi, August 28: A salary hike of 300% would leave anyone jumping with joy. But I am sure we aren’t fortunate like our Members of the Parliament, who are still not very satisfied with the hike.
It is unfortunate that at a time when the country is reeling under one of the worst price rises in recent times, these MPs are doing everything to raise the country’s fiscal deficit. And the best part is they are their own bosses, deciding the hike they should get. How many of us would love to do this?
According to the new proposal approved by the cabinet, the basic salary of an MP would now go up to Rs 50,000 per month against the existing Rs 16,000. Also, the daily allowance of Rs 1,000 for each day when the parliament is in session or taking part in-house committee meetings would now be doubled. Further, an MP will now get Rs 40,000 each for office maintenance and constituency allowance against the current allowance of Rs 20, 000. And that’s not all; the cabinet also has approved perks, which are non-taxable.
Let us not list out their perks, but did you know what are the facilities they enjoy being the Members of Parliament (when the parliament is in session)? It amounts to almost Rs 20 lakh. Oh, how I wish I could become an MP.
The increase will be given with retrospective effect, which means MPs will get arrears from May 2009! Besides all these, an MP is eligible for pension for life to the tune of Rs 20,000 per month if he serves for five years! Which job offers pension for life after just five years in office? Yes, I agree, their salaries in comparison to the legislators from other countries might be low, but a look at these figures might tell you that these numbers are misleading. Here’s how Indian MP salaries measure up vis-a-vis their international counterparts.
It makes me wonder – how many of them actually attend office during their five-year tenure? For instance, DMK MP MK Azhagiri’s (Minister for Chemicals and Fertiliser) perpetual absence in the parliament was even questioned by the speaker. And even, when they attend they ensure that the house is adjourned. For instance, I can’t even remember one discussion on price rise which wasn’t adjourned. And these MPs are comparing themselves to the secretariats and other people working in private organizations. Forget about protesting, even if I acted like Azhagiri, I would have been jobless by now.
So, where is the question of accountability? Who rates these MPs? Our appraisals depend on our performance. But in case of our esteemed MPs, most of them are getting a hike without performing. No doubt, elected representatives need to seek a fresh mandate every five years, but weighing in a number of external factors such as caste, religion, money and muscle power in electoral politics, getting re-elected may not necessarily indicate performance of MPs.
No one would seriously object to a raise of an MP’s salary which currently stands as low as Rs 16,000 per month. But that again leads to an uncomfortable question of how the average value of assets of Lok Sabha MPs is as high as Rs 4.5 cr. Also, how do they manage to splurge during elections when political party support to their candidates are recorded by the Election Commission of India? And that explains why no one has been sympathizing with our elected representatives receiving such low salaries till now. Alas, nothing is enough for our MPs.
A political decision should be backed by political morality. Without morality, no decision lasts long in a functioning democracy. Do you really think these people deserve to earn 104 times what the average Indian earns? Should Indian tax-payers be burdened with a fat package of a non-performing MP, or a chronic absentee in Parliament?
-Agencies