What is the issue?
- The Tamil Nadu Assembly has recently voted to double the salaries of its legislators.
- This has raised a debate on rationalising the salaries of members of legislatures.
What are the issues with the demand?
- Tamil Nadu legislators’ demand comes at a time of farmers demanding drought relief package and loan waiver.
- Recently, parliamentary representatives also have demanded an increase of their own fiscal compensation by 1,250% over the last two decades.
- But the Parliament has seen less than 50% of Bills being scrutinised by parliamentary committees, defeating the very purpose of a deliberative Parliament.
- Ideally, remunerations granted should be in proportion to the services that they have rendered to the nation.
- The rush to pass Bills has also been inspired by a priority for politics rather than for policy.
What is to be done?
- Instead of seeking pay in line with the private sector, India’s public representatives should be paid a reasonable wage, in proportion to their service.
- An external independent body should determine that parliamentary salaries are fairly set.
- Salary reviews should be conducted through an institutionalised process to ensure that increments are provided through a transparent and accountable process.
- The receipts record of parliamentarians should be made public.
- Salaries should also be linked to their performance and to a minimum attendance of parliamentary sessions.
Source: The Hindu
