The Odisha Assembly recently remarkably tripled the monthly salary of its members. On December 9, the council approved the increase ₹2.34 lakh in the salary of each Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) after the House unanimously passed four bills for the hike.
From the previous one ₹1.11 lakh, which includes salary, allowances and other financial benefits, the revised pay has substantially increased to ₹3.45 lakh, one of the highest in the country, PTI reported. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling revealed that the updated pay will be effective from June 2024 when the 17th Assembly was formed. The House unanimously approved four bills that implemented the increase
According to the report, the pay hike was not limited to MLAs, the Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition and pensions of former MLAs were also tripled. In addition to the three-fold increase in salary, the laws contain a provision that directs the state government to pay ₹25 lakh to help the family of any sitting MLA in case of death.
In addition to salary increases, the bill also includes allowances and a pension every five years. “One of the bills passed also allows for such increases through an ordinance without requiring a new law,” Mukesh Mahalinga was quoted as saying by PTI. A request for a pay raise has been in place since 2007, which was finally approved on Tuesday.
MLA Updated Salary Breakdown
The breakdown of Odisha MLA’s new salary is given below:
- Basic Salary – ₹90,000
- Constituency/Secretary Allowance – ₹75,000
- Transport allowance – ₹50,000
- Contribution to books, magazines and periodicals – ₹10,000
- Electricity allowance – ₹20,000
- Fixed Travel Allowance – ₹50,000
- Health allowance – ₹35,000
- Contribution to the phone – ₹15,000
Notably, former MLA pension, salary updated has also been revised ₹1.17 crores, incl ₹80,000 as pension, ₹25,000 as medical allowance, ₹12,500 as travel allowance and more ₹3,000, the new provision says.
“The increase in pensions will especially help former MLAs who were old and sick,” PTI quoted opposition leader and former Speaker Pramila Mallik as saying.
The approved bills indicate that the chief minister will have the right to do so ₹3,74,000 salary per month, while the Speaker of the Assembly and the Deputy Chief Minister will get ₹3,68,000 salary. Received by the Vice President and Minister of State ₹3,56,000 salary while the Cabinet Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition will get ₹3,62,000 salary every month.
For the post of the head of the government whips, ₹3,62,000 salary was approved while his deputy will draw ₹3,62,000 per month.
