Overpaid and underworked

Bhadrapad Shukla Dwitiya/Trutiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

By A.Surya Prakash

While there is a case for increasing MPs’ emoluments, there is an even stronger case for them to be more sincere in their work

One does not know whether our MPs are aware of it, but there is widespread public resentment over the humongous salary hike that they have merrily given themselves during the recent Monsoon Session of Parliament. Public anger over this issue is occasioned not only by the unabashed manner in which our representatives have raised their emoluments but also because it was done without even a semblance of consultation with the people who voted them into office.

There are also other reasons why people have taken umbrage at this development, which was orchestrated in the two Houses of Parliament by some of the richest politicians in the country. Two of these are the complete absence of any corresponding guarantees in regard to the functioning of Parliament and the ethical conduct of members.

With the latest revision, the monthly emoluments of an MP stand revised as follows: Salary — from `16,000 a month to `50,000; Constituency Allowance — from `20,000 to `45,000; Office Allowance — from `20,000 to `45,000; all adding up to `1,40,000 a month as against `56,000 which they earned prior to the hike. This constitutes a whopping 150 per cent hike, the biggest that our MPs have got since the two Houses were constituted in 1952.

The Daily Allowance for marking attendance (signing the register and not necessarily for presence in the House) has been raised 100 per cent from `1,000 to `2,000. In addition, every MP is entitled to a slew of perks which include a rent-free apartment or bungalow apart from one-and-a-half lakh free telephone calls, 50,000 units of electricity and 4,000 kilolitres of water, 34 ‘J Class’ air tickets per year, plus Travelling Allowance to cover cost of travel from airport to residence.

Our MPs are also entitled to a railway air-conditioned First Class pass and a Second Class pass which can be used any time on any journey and a provision to defray the cost of journeys undertaken by road. Eight air tickets per year and a free air-conditioned First Class railway pass is given for the spouse. In addition, every MP is entitled to Furniture Allowance of `75,000 per term. While there is no change in these perks, the interest free loan provided to an MP to buy a car has been increased from `1 lakh to `4 lakh.

This package of cash and perks appears to be rather vulgar in comparison to the frugal allowance of `45 a day paid to members of the Constituent Assembly over 60 years ago. Members of that Assembly felt that it was against the dharma of public life to accept a wage. Biswanath Das spoke for many members when he told the Assembly on May 20, 1949 that there should be no fixed salary for members because they ought to be satisfied with the allowances they receive while serving the country.

Thereafter, the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act entered the statute books in 1954. Since some MPs were allergic to the idea of taking a ‘salary’, the Act said that those who did not want a salary (fixed at Rs 300 a month) were entitled to an allowance of `40 a day — double that received by other members. These contradictory trends persisted till a few years ago and MPs felt guilty while revising their salaries and allowances. So much so that even as late as 1993, the salary of an MP was just `1,500 and his total emoluments were `5,500 a month.

There can be no doubt that MPs were paid a pittance in the first 40 years after independence. It now appears as if MPs have come back with a vengeance to claim all that their predecessors had voluntarily foregone with compound interest. However, while there is certainly a case for upward revision of MPs’ emoluments, there is an even stronger case for slashing some of their perks and a commitment from their side that they will ensure a more purposeful and efficient Parliament.

The opposition to the recent pay hike is also occasioned by the disappointment over the manner in which Parliament functions these days. Absenteeism is a recurring problem because MPs sign the register to collect their Daily Allowance and spend more time outside the two chambers than inside. If the presiding officers were to allow television cameras to pan the Treasury and Opposition benches when the two Houses are ‘at work’ and making law for 1.2 billion people in the second half of the day, voters would be shocked to note that the average attendance is less than 30 in the Lok Sabha (total strength 545) and 20 in the Rajya Sabha (total strength 245 members). This is after they create a ruckus and shut down proceedings in the pre-lunch session.

The two Houses lose hundreds of hours of work every year due to disruptions and the total sittings per year has crashed from around 130 to less than 70. The attendance level in parliamentary committees is pathetic (a 50 per cent turnout is considered excellent). Therefore, this is a classic case of working less and earning more. Does this happen is any other profession? There are other reasons for the prevailing bitterness on this issue and these include the brazenness with which MPs give themselves a hike without consulting their real masters and the contempt many of them display for the code of conduct that was written many years ago.

Though the hefty raise has created much resentment across the country, MPs can ensure that the pill is far less bitter for their voters and tax-payers if they agree to the following: Henceforth they will ask an independent pay commission to determine their salaries and allowances and abide by its recommendations; they will accept a cut in their salaries and allowances corresponding to the time lost to disruptions in the two Houses; they will abide by the letter and spirit of Article 100 (3) and 100(4) of the Constitution which stipulate that no business shall be transacted in the two Houses without quorum and assure the people that no law will be passed without quorum; and, finally, that the Ethics Committees of the two Houses will work in a credible and transparent manner and punish members for unethical conduct. Are our MPs ready to pick up the gauntlet or will they continue to work less and earn more?

Source: The Pioneer

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