2-day Assembly session concludes with one new and 3 amendment Bills passed

GANGTOK, 11 Sept:  The two-day Sikkim Legislative Assembly session concluded today with the passing of one new bill and three amendment bills.
Today, the Assembly unanimously passed the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers and MLAs of Sikkim Legislative Assembly amendment bill placed during the first day of the monsoon session on 10 September.
The Amendment Bill first proposed in 2010 was sent back by Governor BP Singh for reconsideration stating that the rate of hike was not proportionate. The Cabinet after dealing with all the queries made by the Governor reduced the proposed rate of increase to 15 percent to which the Governor gave his assent.
Minister in-charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Dawa Norbu Thakarpa told NOW! during the tea-break that the present form of the Bill has already got the green signal from the Governor and the Cabinet has justified the present form of amendment bill.
The salary hike is proposed to come into force with immediate effect and imposes an additional burden of Rs. 38.70 lakh on the state exchequer for the current financial year and from the next financial year [2013-14],  the Consolidated fund of the state will pay out Rs. 77.40 lakh more.
With this amendment, the Chief Minister will get a salary of Rs. 50,000 with Sumptuary Allowances of Rs.45,000 per month while the Speaker will be entitled to a monthly salary of Rs. 45,000 and Sumptuary Allowances of Rs. 40,000.
Ministers and the Deputy Speaker will be entitled to a monthly salary of Rs. 40,000 with Sumptuary Allowances of Rs. 35,000, Minister of State a salary of Rs. 35,000 with Sumptuary Allowances of Rs. 30,000 and the Deputy Minister of State a monthly salary of Rs. 33,000 with Sumptuary Allowances of Rs. 30,000.
On Monday, Mr Thakarpa in the statement of object and reasons had given price rise and inflation as the reason for the proposed hike in salaries and allowances.
Besides this, the Sikkim Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill and Sikkim Rolep Hydro Electric Power Project (Transfer and Vesting of Land) Bill were also unanimously passed by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly today.
The Leader of the House thanked all members for their contribution in the smooth functioning of the two days session of the house. The House was adjourned Sine-die by the Speaker of the House after his vote of thanks.