Lawmakers want expensive cars, hike in perks

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 29

Liabilities in the state may have crossed a whopping Rs 47,000-crore mark, but the state’s lawmakers aspire for expensive air-conditioned cars, laptops and hike in perks, dearness allowance and discretionary funds.

The lawmakers do not hesitate to make their aspirations public. This became evident in the Legislative Assembly today when MLAs, cutting across party lines, impressed upon the ruling coalition to seriously look into their demands.

The government, in a written reply to question of BJP MLA Sat Paul Sharma, disclosed that liabilities had mounted from Rs 10,442.98 crore in 2001-02 to Rs 47,316.50 crore in 2013-14.
The liabilities included Rs 17,204.98 crore as market borrowing during 2013-14 while the loan from the Centre was Rs 1,775.47 crore. Pending bills for payment in various treasuries of the state were for Rs 2,375 crore on March 19.
Congress legislator from Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori said, “Your officers have air-conditioned vehicles, but MLAs move in worn-out cars. Ministers are moving in Safaris costing between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 40 lakh each, but MLAs’ vehicles do not have power brakes. MLAs should be given Scorpios.”
He added, “There has been embezzlement in purchase of cars for ministers and officers. Has the government left us to die in road accidents as our vehicles do not have power brakes? The government should buy Scorpios for MLAs. They should be given laptops.”
Saroori’s remarks received applause from other MLAs, including those in treasury benches, who thumped benches. He sought a discretionary amount of Rs 1 lakh at the disposal of every MLA on the pattern of Cabinet ministers and their deputies.
Ali Mohammad Sagar of the NC hinted at the government to increase MLAs’facilities, including perks.
Nawang Rigzin Jora, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, said the hike in salary and other perks of MLAs would sent a wrong impression, but the government should introduce a provision for dearness allowance for MLAs.
MLAs from various political parties favoured a substantial hike in the constituency development fund. The monthly salary of a Cabinet minister in Jammu and Kashmir was Rs 17,000 in 2002 and went up to Rs 40,000 in 2006.
In 2009, they enhanced their salary to Rs 85,000. The basic salary of an MLA was 35,000 per month now. Each MLA was getting Rs 30,000 as constituency conveyance, Rs 14,000 as telephone allowance and Rs 1,000 as medical allowance a month.
Housing loan and motor car advance for each MLA was doubled in June last year. They were entitled to Rs 5 lakh as housing loan and Rs 5 lakh as motor car advance now.
Winding up the discussion, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basharat Bukhari said the government would consider the demand for new cars to MLAs in due course of time.
He announced the constitution of a five-member committee to work out the modalities for enhancing the constituency development fund amount.