MPs want Re 1 more than babus as salary
Among the many traditions of Parliament, there is one in which members gift themselves a salary hike — whenever it has happened — on the last day of a session.
Among the many traditions of Parliament, there is one in which members gift themselves a salary hike — whenever it has happened — on the last day of a session.
May 7 is the last day of the current session and a hike is likely.
This one will be a hefty one, if it comes through, nearly doubling their salary from Rs 45,000 a month to at least a rupee more than Rs 80,000.
Why at least Rs 80,001?
“Since the salary of a Secretary is Rs 80,000 per month (with allowances). Our salary should be higher than that even it is by Rs 1,’’ said a Congress member who did not want to be named.
His logic is simple: since MPs outrank a secretary in the government’s Warrant of Precedence (babudom’s pecking order), they should get more than them – even if it is just a rupee more.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD’s Lalu Prasad met finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to press the case for a salary hike on Wednesday but were told wait for the report of a Joint Parliamentary Committee on this.
The report was submitted on Wednesday and now the government will take a call. If the Cabinet approves on Thursday, a Bill could be moved on May 7.