Telangana legislators push for big salary hike

Telangana legislators are pushing for a substantial hike in their salaries and it was being considered by the TRS government but the demand was questioned by the Opposition Congress, which Wednesday dubbed it “shameful and insensitive” when farmers in the state were committing suicides.

The MLAs and MLCs have cited “grossly inadequate” pay package for their demand with senior Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao saying they are seeking a “200 per cent” hike. In the 119-member Telangana Assembly, the TRS has 76 MLAs while 15 are from the Congress.

Deputy chief minister Mohammed Ali backed the demand of the legislators, saying there has been no increment in salaries since many years and that even opposition was also demanding it for a long time.

The government is examining the issue of increasing the salaries of MLAs and MLCs in view of their “grossly inadequate” pay structure, according to a government release.

TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar said the salary being presently drawn by the MLAs is not enough even to meet basic needs.

“An MLA travels more than 100 km per day on an average. The salary of an MLA is Rs 12,500 and the salary of an MP is Rs 45,000 (excluding emoluments).”