New Delhi, Sept. 27 : The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has proposed the establishment of a three-member independent Emoluments Commission to recommend salaries and other allowances for Members of Parliament.
The proposal is contained in the Agenda Notes prepared by the Ministry for the two day All India Whips’ Conference to be held at Visakhapatnam, on September 29-30.
The conference will be chaired by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu.
“The setting up of an independent Emoluments Commission for recommending the salaries and allowances of the Members of Parliament will not only put to rest the public outcry and media criticism over MPs themselves deciding their salaries, it will also provide an appropriate opportunity to take into consideration the huge responsibilities and the important role they play in our representative democracy,” the agenda notes for the Whips Conference of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs stated.
“It would ensure that recommendations on Parliamentary salary are reached in a fair, transparent and equitable way. Once there is consensus on setting up of the Commission, the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act,1954 will suitably amended,” note added.
Chief whips and whips of various parties in Parliament and state legislatures would also discuss establishing inter-Party forums in Legislatures for better coordination to enable effective functioning of legislative bodies.
Delegates will also discuss the utility and shortcomings of the MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) in the light of its implementation over the last 32 years and make suggestions and recommendations.
The conference will also deliberate the implementation of MPLADS scheme, introduced in 1993-94, under which funds being provided for each MP has increased from Rs.5.00 lakhs to Rs.5.00 cr in 2011-12.
Whips of both the ruling and opposition parties play an important role in informing MPs about the business of the day, ensuring their attendance and formulating a collective opinion of the Party on major issues. (ANI)