Bhubaneswar: Cutting across party lines, members of the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday demanded increase in their salary and pension for former MLAs in view the rising costs of essential items and healthcare expenses.
Raising the issue in the House, several legislators also demanded steps to increase health insurance coverage of journalists.
The legislators underlined the need to hike MLA local area development fund from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore and their salaries to Rs 2.5 lakh per month. Similarly, the pension of the former members of the Assembly should be increased to Rs 70,000 per month, they said.
Speaking on the issue, BJD leader Pramila Malik said the pension of former MLAs should be increased as they find it difficult to manage due to the prevailing market prices and their health expenses.
Stating that a committee was formed for the purpose, she said the Speaker should form a new panel, if necessary, for recommending steps to hike the salary of MLAs and pension of ex-legislators. The committee had r recommended that the salary of MLAs should be increased to Rs 2.5 lakh and the pension of former MLAs should be increased to Rs 70,000, Mallik said.
Deputy Chief of Opposition Pratap Keshari Deb said that the MLA Local Area Development Fund is Rs 3 crore now and it should be increased to Rs 5 crore.
Expressing similar views, Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam said that the MLA Development Fund should be increased along with the salary and pension.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said people in the constituency have numerous demands for various developmental works. It is not possible to meet these demands and hence the MLA allowance should be increased to Rs 5 crore.
The health insurance coverage of journalists should also be increased to Rs 20 lakh, he said.
BJP MLA Bhaskar Madhei supported these demands. Instead of forming a new committee, steps should be taken as per the recommendations of the old committee, he said.
Another BJP MLA Sanatan Bijuli said that the salary of MLAs is very low considering their expenses. Therefore, as per the committee’s recommendation, the salaries of MLAs and pensions of former MLAs should be increased.
Speaking on the issue, Speaker Surma Padhi said it seems everyone is in agreement with the demands raised by the MLAs. Therefore, the demand for increase in salaries of MLAs, pensions of former MLAs and MLA allowance is the need of the hour.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister should present this issue to the state government, she said.
