Odisha Assembly approves major salary and allowance hike for MLAs
Bhubaneswar, Dec 9
The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that significantly increased the salaries and allowances of its members, marking a more than threefold rise.
According to the four bills passed on Tuesday, the enhancement in salaries and allowances will be effective retrospectively from June 5, 2024.
The enhancement covers all key office-bearers, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whips.
Former MLAs will also benefit from higher pensions and allowances under the new provisions. Under the legislation, the monthly basic salary of an MLA has been raised from Rs 35,000 to Rs 90,000.
In addition, members will receive a sumptuary allowance of Rs 98,000 per month, compared to Rs 40,000 previously.
Other allowances, including those for constituency visits, Lok Seva Bhawan engagements, transport, and medical expenses, have also been substantially increased.
Ex-MLAs are now entitled to pensions and additional allowances totalling approximately Rs 1.17 lakh per month.
Specifically, the Chief Minister’s monthly remuneration will amount to Rs 3.74 lakh, comprising a basic salary of Rs 1 lakh, a sumptuary allowance of Rs 1.83 lakh, and Rs 91,000 for car allowances.
Salaries for other office-bearers range between Rs 3.50 lakh and Rs 3.68 lakh per month, depending on the position.
The bills were tabled in the Assembly and passed without opposition on Tuesday. Senior BJD leader and party chief whip Pramila Mallik welcomed the move, stating it would support former MLAs in managing their social and financial needs.
BJP MLA Om Prakash Mishra also endorsed the decision, calling it a necessary and long-overdue measure for the state legislature.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting to see this passed unanimously. It's a significant increase. I hope this is matched with greater accountability and transparency in how constituency funds are used. The public deserves to see the value for this increased cost.
As someone from Odisha, I have mixed feelings. Yes, MLA's work is hard and expenses are high, but ₹1.17 lakh pension for ex-MLAs? That's more than what a senior professor or doctor earns after a lifetime of service. The scale seems disproportionate. 🤔
If this helps attract more qualified and honest people to politics, then it's a good step. We often complain about corruption, but then balk at paying decent salaries. Let's see if performance improves now.
Retrospective from June 5th? So they are giving themselves a bonus for the past 6 months as well? This is where it feels unfair. Common citizens don't get arrears for tax hikes or inflation. The timing and retrospectiveness are questionable.
The key detail is "passed without opposition." When both ruling and opposition parties agree on increasing their own pay, it tells you everything. The real test will be if this leads to better governance and faster development work in constituencies.
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