Bill proposes hike in salaries and allowances of Ministers and MLAs

GANGTOK, 10 Sept: The Minister in-charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Dawa Norbu Thakarpa introduced a Bill proposing an increase in the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers and MLAs of Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
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.
Minister Thakarpa, while tabling the Bill, explains in the statement of object and reasons that the existing salaries of Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of Legislative Assembly were fixed in the year 2010.
“A need has been felt to revise the salaries in view of the present price escalation and high inflation. In the case of Government employees, price rise from time to time are being compensated by granting Dearness Allowances twice a year which has not been extended to the dignitaries and therefore, the state government has deemed it expedient to enhance the existing salary rates in the current year 2013”.
The Minister informed the house that the State Government has already informed the Governor, B P Singh and has been accorded the recommend to introduction and consideration of the bill by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
Similarly, the Mr Thakarpa has also proposed to enhance the payment of Pension of former Chief Ministers, Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Ministers and MLAs. Former Chief Ministers will get pension of Rs. 15,000 [revised from Rs. 8,000], more than one term Ministers and Speakers will receive monthly pension of Rs. 10,000 increased from the existing Rs. 6,000 and former MLAs will also be entitled to get a monthly pension of Rs. 10,000.
With this amendment, the additional burden of Rs. 30.01 lakh will be borne by the State exchequer in this financial year and Rs. 60.02 lakh per annum from the next financial year.