The Lok Sabha approved a bill on Tuesday to cut the salaries of all MPs by 30 percent for a year, to meet the demands stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Members of Parliament (Amendment) Salaries, Benefits and Pension Bill was approved unanimously by members of the Lower House.
The bill was presented in the Lower House on September 14 (Monday). Earlier this year, the government had enacted the Minister’s Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, which provided for a 30 percent cut in the sumptuary allowance payable to each minister for a period of one year from 1 April 2020.
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On April 5, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed an ordinance to modify the salaries of parliamentarians and ministers, reducing allowances and pensions by 30 percent. The Cabinet had also decided to suspend the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) program for two years and transfer the amount to the government’s consolidated fund.
The Union’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, addressing a press conference, said that President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and the governors had also offered to accept the 30 percent cut in their salaries. .
“The Union cabinet also approved the temporary suspension of the MPLAD Fund of MPs during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to manage the health and adverse impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. The consolidated amount of MPLAD Funds for 2 years – Rs 7,900 crore will go to Consolidated Fund of India, “Javadekar had said.
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