MLAs need more to serve people, not demand hike in salaries and perks

Bhubaneswar, Aug 2(Reporters Today Bureau): Cutting across party line the members of Odisha Legislative Assembly two days ago demanded a hike in their salaries and perks on the floor of the House. The reaction was sharp among the public. Because the demand came at a time when the state’s economy has suffered a setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lakhs of people lost their jobs while another few lakh living a life of misery inflicted by the pandemic. Hence, when the demand was raised the people reacted sharply.

Soon followed the demand of former legislators receiving pension.  They wanted a hike in their pension and medical expenses also. The people were bound to get puzzled. These are the public servants who at least once in their lifetime had vowed to serve the people. Whether they served or not or how they served the people in their respective constituencies know very well. To serve the people the government provided them a fund also—MLA Local Area Development Fund. They were authorized to select the contractors for any work they wanted in their respective areas. What they did or not is also known to their electorate.

But the strangest thing is all the legislators cutting across party lines agreed that they need a rise in their salaries and perks. No debate was necessary. Perhaps this is the only issue when every MLA agreed with his or her fellow MLA. This has not only puzzled the people but anguished them too.

The demands of the people are many. When a demand is made by a MLA of the Opposition Bench, some in the Treasury Bench do not agree—be it construction of a bridge, pond or school. A lot of politics ensues finally resulting in either closure of a project or getting delayed.

In Odisha, MLAs made the demand and the Speaker has forwarded the demand to the State Government for ‘careful consideration.’ People feel there will be no problem in solving the issue as these MLAs are the ones who determine the fate of nearly 4.5 crore people in the State. This feeling is not out of elation but dejection.

According to a senior journalist, the demand of the MLAs comes at a time when so many issues concerning the fate of a large number of people—from Class IV employees in Government offices to Sikshya Sahayaks who mould the minds of future generation of the state—have remained unresolved due to lack of funds with the government. The State is borrowing from different sources to achieve its development targets for the people. These MLAs are not unaware of this aspect, the senior journalist said.

According to him, most of the MLAs in the Assembly are ‘Lakhpatis’ and quite a sizable number ‘Crorepatis.’ Why do they need a hike when the amount they receive as salary and perks are dream for a vast majority of the population.

A Homeguard getting paltry sum as salary, said the Government took few years to realize their plight and hike the salaries. “We had to take recourse to dharnas and strike to get our demand fulfilled,” he said.

Similar was the reaction from a Sikhshya Sahayak who was part of a demonstration in the State capital to demand hike in their salary and better working conditions. Needless to say, some MLAs have been part of such demonstrations but never achieved anything for the people they were leading.

But the MLAs know they can get their demand fulfilled easily as they are in the Assembly and can influence the State Government. They become stronger when united.

A MLA has many facilities. He gets elected by the people and it is the people who pay different taxes to enable the government pay these MLAs their salary and perks. In a State like Odisha, a MLA receives nearly Rs 1.5 lakh monthly on an average during his tenure to work for the public.

According to a report, State Assemblies across the country worked an average 21 days only during 2021.

The most conspicuous thing that baffles the people is the change in the life style of the MLAs after they get elected. There are rare examples of course where the life style of a MLA did not change after getting elected. The powers of a MLA become immense and some MLAs never mind flaunting those newly acquired strength.

The first thing a people’s representative change is the vehicle he used during his election. From rickety cars it soon changes to SUVs and it shows. Some even change their attire, shoes and mobiles. It is welcome as long it does not pinch the common men.

The general feeling among the people is that any demand by the MLAs for hike in salaries or perks should not be entertained as they are people’s representatives and it the income of the electorate that has chosen them that need to be augmented first. Their tax burdens need to be reduced. Once they are happy the state will be happy.