Parliament Monsoon Session: Today is the second day of the 18-day Monsoon Session of Parliament which began from September 14, under the shadow of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For the Monsoon Session, the government has listed 38 new legislation for consideration and passage including 11 bills replacing.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi introduced Salary, Allowance, and Pension for Members of the Parliament. Bill in the Lok Sabha on September 14.
The bill was introduced to replace the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Ordinance. The ordinance was cleared by the Union Cabinet on April 6 and promulgated on April 7.
The ordinance had come into force to amend a law to reduce the salaries of Members of Parliament by 30 percent for one year “to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic”. It inserted a new sub-section in the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act 1954 to give effect to reduction in salaries.
“… In order to manage and control such a situation, it has become necessary to raise resources by reduction of salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament…,” the ordinance said.
After the ordinance came into effect, the MPs will get a salary of Rs 70,000 per month from a salary of Rs 1 lakh.
With regard to allowances, according to the orders, the Joint Committee of Parliament in consultation with the government recommended a 30 percent cut in Constituency Allowance of Rs 70,000 per month of each MP, which comes to Rs 21,000 per month.