Stipends of ministers and MLAs, on Friday, saw a sharp increase. The West Bengal assembly passed a bill regarding the increase of stipends of ministers, including that of Chief Minister, and MLAs.
The ministers get their stipends more than doubled. They earlier used to get Rs 37,000. Now they would get Rs 82,000. This excludes other perks they get.
The MLAs would get Rs 22,000 instead of Rs 17,000 they used to get earlier.
The chief minister’s stipend also saw a sharp increase. While the chief minister used to draw Rs 41,000 earlier, now on he/she can draw Rs 86,000.
The CPI(M) vehemently opposed the increase of stipends of MLAs saying, “This is quite unethical. MLAs cannot increase their salaries or stipends.”
Sujan Chakraborty, leader of CPI(M) in assembly, said his party MLAs would not accept the increased stipends.
“We will not accept it. This is totally immoral. When entire state is running on deficit, how can MLAs, people’s representative, accept such hike in payment.”
Many were surprised seeing the sharp increase of chief minister’s stipend because Mamata Banerjee does not accept any stipend from the government.
Mamata responded to left’s opposition and asked, “Who is responsible of ballooning debt of West Bengal? I am not.”
The government’s argument behind the hike was that many others states MLAs like UP and Jharkhand received good amount and West Bengal MLAs and ministers lagged behind.
“With this, corruption would decrease,” said a minister of West Bengal government.
