Thiruvananthapuram: After 4 years since the last revision, the Government is to hike the pay and other allowances for the State legislators and Ministers. The State Cabinet has appointed Justice C N Ramachandran Nair as the one-member commission to study the pay and other allowances and file the final report within 6 months.
As of now, the Ministers get Rs 97,429 as salary and other benefits, while the legislators get Rs 70,000.
The pay and allowances for legislators and Ministers were revised last in 2018. The Government has decided to effect a pay hike considering the increase in living expenses.
An MLA’s basic salary is Rs 2,000 now. Other allowances including constituency allowance of Rs 25,000, phone rent of Rs 11,000, information allowance of Rs 4,000, travel allowance of Rs 20,000 and Rs 8,000 allowance to host guests, add up to Rs 70,000.
It is Rs 97,429 for the Ministers including all benefits. No other perks are allowed. Fuel expenses worth Rs 17,000 would be covered for commuting in the State car in Thiruvananthapuram and within an 8 km radius around the capital city. In other places, Rs 15 per km would be allowed as Boarding Allowance Travel Allowance (BATA).
The Ministers complain that what is allowed now will not even cover the current fuel expenses and food expenses for those travelling along. Besides, they are to focus on affairs in their constituencies. Rs 10,000 is also being deducted from the Ministers’ salary as part of the COVID salary challenge, towards the Disaster fund.
Allowances and perks for the legislators:
Travel by road (Within Kerala and outside) Rs 10 per km
Train travel - First Class AC ticket, Rs 1 per km
Fuel expenses for the vehicle - Rs 3 lakh per year
Daily allowance for sittings in Assembly session, and other official meetings: Rs 1,000 within Kerala, Rs 1,200 outside Kerala
Flight fare for participating in official programmes: Rs 50,000 per year
Allowance while visiting metropolitan cities: Rs 3,500
Medical treatment cost: Covered by the Government
Interest-free vehicle loan: Up to Rs 10 lakh
Housing loan advance: Rs 20 lakh
Books allowance: Rs 15,000 per year
Allowances for the Ministers:
Monthly allowance: Rs 2,000
Dearness allowance: Rs 38,429
Constituency allowance: Rs 40,000
Commute within Thiruvananthapuram and 8 km limit: Rs 17,000 worth of fuel
Road travel within Kerala and outside: Rs 15 per km
Boarding during travel within Kerala: Rs 1,000 per day
Train travel: First class AC, Rs 1 per km
Flight travel: Within the State and outside – Free
Government boats – Free travel
Personal staff - 30 persons
Travel outside the State: Rs 1,500 BATA per day
Medical treatment – Covered by the Government