Hyderabad: The Telangana government is considering to double the salaries of MLAs and MLCs in the state in view of "rising expenses". Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a review with senior officials on the issue on Monday, a release from his office said.
The legislators are presently getting up to Rs 95,000 per month, but the Chief Minister felt that the amount is not commensurate with the rising expenses, the release said. Observing that he wants the public representatives to work honestly, Rao said they should be paid salaries accordingly.
Noting that the MLAs are travelling in their own vehicles for attending Assembly sessions, meetings and programmes in the districts, he said a hike in their salaries, hence is "inevitable".
A proposal to give up to Rs 2 lakh to the MLAs and MLCs was discussed in the meeting, it said.
The release said there are 120 MLAs, including a nominated one, and 40 MLCs in Telangana presently. The MLAs and MLCs who hold posts like minister and cabinet rank status are 36.
It was estimated that if Rs 2 lakh per month is paid to the remaining 124, it would cost Rs 2.5 crore per month, Rs 30 crore per year and Rs 150 crore in five years.
The release said Rs 75 crore is already being paid and that the additional burden would be Rs 75 crore.
The chief minister has also decided to examine doubling the salary of ministers and increasing the pension given to former MLAs and MLCs, it said.
Rao felt that the salaries given to MPs by the Central government are also "inadequate" and directed that the possibility of the state government giving them salaries be studied.
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