Odisha Speaker forms panel over MLAs' salary hike demand

Odisha Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha on Monday formed a committee to review the salary hike demands of the members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in view of the rising inflation.

The committee led by MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy comprises of legislators of all the parties including Congress and BJP. The committee will review the demands of the legislators and submit a report to the Speaker.

Meanwhile, Speaker has asked the government to consider the issue.

Notably, the members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Saturday urged the government to raise their salary in view of rising inflation. MLAs cutting across party lines raised the demand during the Zero Hour citing the inflationary condition.

“The salary of MLAs was revised for the last time in 2017. Also, our travel allowances were raised that year. Keeping the inflationary condition in mind, the State government should raise our salary,” demanded Opposition chief whip and BJP MLA Mohan Majhi.

At present, Odisha legislators draw Rs 1 lakh salary per month while MLAs in other states get more salary. They avail basic salary of Rs 35,000 while another Rs 65,000 is provided as allowance. This excludes daily allowances of Rs 1500 per day that they get when the assembly is in session and Rs 2000 per day when they visit outside the state.

The salary of Odisha MLAs is far less compared to many other states. Odisha MLAs’ monthly remuneration is 19th among Indian states. 

According to official data, Telangana lawmakers are the highest paid in the country. They get around Rs 2.75 lakh per month followed by Maharashtra with Rs 2.30 lakh, Rs 2.05 in Karnataka and Rs 2.05 in Jharkhand.

Ruling BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy said the demand is justified since salaries are periodically revised for all sections. 

“The MLAs need to spend a lot on the constituents,” Satpathy said.

Similarly, Opposition chief whip and BJP MLA Mohan Majhi said the cost of commodities has increased. But, there has been no rise in their salary since 2017. 

“The salary of Odisha MLAs is far less compared to many other states,” Majhi said.

Supporting him, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati also demanded more salary for legislators.