Is its fair that Cabinet approves bill to hike MPs' salary? Why?

Question

Hours after the Cabinet cleared a proposal for raising the basic salary of MPs from Rs.16,000 to Rs. 50,000, several opposition members raised the issue in the Lok Sabha in the Question Hour, saying the hike was inadequate.
And, here are some more less-known facts about the Indian lawmaker:

On paper, the salary of an MP in India is Rs 144,000 per year (about $3,200), which works out to just Rs 12,000 (about $266) per month.
But it is meagre only if you don't consider the numerous allowances and freebies an MP is entitled to. Here is a look at the allowances and perks that every MP -- India has 790 of them --!!!!@@
Each Indian MP gets:
*Rs 14,000 (about $311) for office expenses every month, which includes Rs 3,000 for stationary items, Rs 1,000 on franking of letters and Rs 10,000 for secretariat services. Office expenditure per month : Rs.14,000
*A monthly constituency allowance of Rs 10,000.
*A daily allowance of Rs 500 when Parliament is in session. Parliament has three sessions every year. The Budget Session (February to May), Monsoon session (July to September), and Winter session (November and December).
*A daily travel allowance of Rs 8 per kilometre:Rs.48,000 (For a visit to Delhi & return: 6000 km)+ Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train : Free (For any number of times) (All over India ) + Charge for Business Class in flights : Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A.)
*They can also travel anywhere in India -- with a spouse or companion -- 40 times by air free of cost every year, business class.
*An MP gets a sprawling bungalow in the heart of New Delhi for which he pays a rent of just Rs 2,000 (about $44) per month. Rent for MP hostel at Delhi : Free
*Each MP gets near-free electricity of 50,000 units every year. And free water.+ Every Year Local phone call charge : Free up to 1,70,000 calls.
*The MP's bungalow is furnished -- with air conditioners, refrigerators and television sets -- free of cost. Maintenance of the house -- including washing of sofa covers and curtains -- is done free of cost by the government.
*When an MP travels abroad officially, he is entitled to free business class air tickets. He is also paid a daily travelling allowance, which varies depending upon the country being visited.
*Most medical expenses of MPs are taken care of by the Contributory Health Service Scheme of the Union government.
*Each MP also gets Rs 20 million (about $434,782) each year from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Fund. But the MP does not get the money directly. Instead, it is transferred to respective district headquarters where projects are being implemented.
*TOTAL expense for a MP per year : Rs. 32,00,000 + TOTAL expense for 5 years : Rs. 1,60,00,000 + For 534 MPs, the expense for 5 years : Rs. 8,54,40,00,000 (nearly 855 cores)

*After an MP completes a term in office, he is entitled to pension. The basic monthly pension amount is Rs 3,000 (about $66). But it goes up according to the number of years an MP has served in Parliament.

Also Look at property growth: annual rate
*BSP - 59%... NCP - 51%.... SP - 44%.... Congress - 42%.... BJP - 18%
HOW MUCH MONEY (IN MILLION)
*Congress - 497 (2009), 221 (2008)….. BJP - 220 (2009), 124 (2008)……. BSP - 182 (2009), 70 (2008)

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article584020.ece
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Cabinet-approves-bill-to-hike-MPs-salary/articleshow/6371626.cms
http://www.bbc.co.uk/hindi/india/2010/08/100818_politicalparties_ap.shtml

Answer 1

It is really disgusting. These people are doing no good for country. 80% of them are corrupted and here only for money. There are numerous allegations against them,which remain pending. Nobody taking any action against them,instead of that they are being rewarded. This is possible in our country only. And friend statistics given by you is understating,

not only Basic Pay,but all other benefits are also increased.

2.Office expences hiked from 20000 to 40000.

3. Constituency allowance doubled to 40000,4.Limit for interest free loan for buying cars hiked four-fold i.e; from 1lakh to 4lakh.

5.Road mileage rate for vehicles used by MPs hiked from Rs 13/km to Rs16/km.

6.MP's spouse can travel any number of times in first class in railways. Can also claim road mileage.

7. Pension increased from 8000 to 20000 per month.

8. They also get 1,50,000 free phone calls a year on 3 landlines and 2 mobile phones.

9. Rent free housing;govt pays rent on furniture up to Rs.60000,Rs.15000 for additional items.

10. Free washing of sofa covers,curtains,bathrooms tiles.

11. 50,000 units of electricity a year.

12. 4000 kilo litres of water.

13. Free air,rail and steamer travel.

14. For attaining Parliament,earlier they used to get Rs.1000per day,now it hiked to Rs.2000 per day.

Still to mention many more..



The country has to bear Rupees 37 lakhs for each MP per year. We are paying it from our income. And what they are doing? They are betraying people of this country day after day. A country where more than 30 crore population cant get full meal for once in a day,there people representative are getting Rs.37L a year,still they are not satisfied,they want more. This income of MPs are white income and God knows about the black money they are earning. Now you decide what good these culprits will do for us?and how long We, the People of India will tolerate these monkeys?

Answer 2

I completely agree with ypu on the proposed hike of salaries of Indian MPs. Unless you have a stabel, guaranteed system of income, no one will be stable and the MPs and MLAs too are human beings, they too have daughters to marry off and a family to look after.



In the present dispensation, either the royalty like Scindias, business tycoons like the Jindals or hereditary politicians like Sachin Pilot and the intellectuals like IK Gujral or Manmohan Singh who are paid out of the party kitty) can survive.



The rest can forget about ever making it to the parliament, now see if the Indian parliament has to be representative, it must be more broad-based, right? If only the above-mentioned people were to keep making it to the parliament, then the voice of the common man will never reach the upper echelons.



So, what does the ordinary man do, how does he fight his election, he raises loans and if elected tries every trick in the book to return that loan, could be bribes, cash for question, misusing MPLADS funds and many more ways.



If we could somehow make the MP secure, about his future along with his family's by increasing his salary and pension and 'pension to family after death', there are chances that he might not resort to dubious means to gather wealth.



Now, the ultimate question , how much should a MP's salary be, the take home. I propose that considering the low shelf-life of the MPs (70% of the MPs dont get re-elected), he shoudl be paid some Rs. 300 000 per month, apart from allt he other facilities that he has.



he shoudl also get a monthly pension of Rs 20 000 per month and this pension should not be halved after his death and his wife should continue to draw the same pension even after his demise.

Answer 3

An increase may be ok but not to the extent it is proposed. It is really shameful that MPs should stage dharna in the well of the House, asking for still more. The Yadhavs want still more but they seem to forget the people in their own states, how poor they are and are kept poor by the administrations. This only goes to show the weakness of the govt. on handling matters, even as simple as MPs' salaries!

Answer 4

Of course it's unfair. How do you stop it? Barter! Stop making transactions that can be taxed. It's only the work of the masses that allows small numbers of people control over huge amounts of money so, if 50% of everyone's work is paid for by goods or services instead of money, everyone "earns" 50% less per year and pays less tax. Stop using money. Without gold reserves to back it up, it worthless paper anyway ..... oh, and keep away from banks!!!

Answer 5

Add to it the amount he makes for raising issues in Parliament. This is democracy in India, and who are to blame for the situation. We, the people of India who ensure such scoundrels are elected. Their greed knows no limits and there is nobody to question them. And the reason they attributed for the raise. The world will laugh at us. They blamed inflation and had stated that they have to meet the high cost of living. And who created this inflationary trend. Certainly, the inefficient lawmakers, and the common man has to pay for it. They don't certainly deserve what they are getting now, and they are crying themselves hoarse for a hike.

Answer 6

Right.

With all the above statistics and even with their monthly Salaries revised upward from Rs. 12000/- to 50000/- still the MP's are unhappy lot.

Answer 7

Didn't read it all just answering the question. Would this be in line with inflation? Inflation they created?

Answer 8

THIS IS UNFAIR, IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY INCREASE MINIMUM WAGES THREE TIMES. UNBELIEVABLE, HEIGHT OF INSENSITIVITY.