Mumbai Citizens want better governance

With the Assembly approving a pay hike for MLAs, citizens demanded more responsibility and accountability from their elected representatives.

With the Assembly approving a pay hike for MLAs, citizens demanded more responsibility and accountability from their elected representatives.

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Nayana Kathpalia, co-convenor of Citispace, a non-governmental organisation, said MLAs must ensure good governance and have a responsive attitude after getting the substantial raise. “I am not opposing the pay hike if after this we get good governance and improved performance. At least this much they can give back to the city and state,” she said.

The state government, which is struggling with a debt of Rs 2.1 lakh crore, will be further burdened as it pays the 244 MLAs their revised salaries.

Former mayor Mahadeo Deole, who had demand a hike in corporators’ pay from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per month, said there was a need to hike the salaries of people’s representatives. “The government should also permit the civic body to hike corporators’ salaries,” he said.

Many residents asked why MLAs needed such salary hikes when their performance is unsatisfactory. “Why do the MLAs need salaries?” asked Pratibha Joshi, a resident of Dadar (W). “I don’t think they need salaries to run their homes or for their bread and butter. This salary is free income with which they can please their party workers.”