The Tripura Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill seeking almost 100 percent hike in salaries of the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs of the state.
The bill proposes that the chief minister will now receive a monthly salary of Rs 97,000 with Rs 13,000 as sumptuary allowance while ministers and the Leader of the Opposition will get Rs 95,000 with an allowance of Rs 12,000 per month. The MLAs too will now draw Rs 93,000 as salary with Rs 12,000 as allowance.
The Parliamentary Affairs minister strongly supported the bill saying that despite the hike the chief minister, ministers and MLAs of the state will receive the lowest perks.
He said, "We have proposed the revised salaries, pension and other benefits for our lawmakers after a gap of six years. Our ministers and MLAs are contributing to the development of the state. They need support from the government. Keeping all aspects in mind, the salaries and pensions were revised.”
Meanwhile, taking part in the discussions, Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) MLA, Jitendra Chowdhury said that around a 100% hike in the salaries and pensions of the lawmakers was not "hundred percent correct".
"It is normal to hike salaries and pensions of lawmakers at regular intervals but there must be legitimacy in the process even as I am not against the hike of the lawmakers' benefits," he said.
On the other hand, Senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman pointed out loopholes in medical reimbursement bills and sought correction by fixing the upper-limit cap on medical bills of lawmakers.
Roy Barman said, "It is being reported that some MLAs are drawing Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month as medical reimbursement bills every month. It seems we are having ailing lawmakers. There shall be an upper limit in regard to medical reimbursement bills for lawmakers."
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