Mizoram legislators get a hefty hike

AIZAWL: The Mizoram assembly on Thursday passed an amendment, handing a healthy increment to the state’s ministers, and legislators.


According to the revised pay structure, the chief minister would receive Rs 1.84 lakh a month as salary and allowances, while a legislator would earn Rs 1.5 lakh per month in accordance with the enhanced salary and allowances fixed by the state legislature on Thursday.

The amendment bills were introduced in the assembly by the state parliamentary minister TJ Lalnuntluanga on Thursday, the last day of the 3-day session, and passed by the legislature after nine members, including chief minister Zoramthanga, participated in the discussion.

The monthly salary and allowances of the legislators was enhanced from Rs 65,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh, an increase of 130.77%.

The chief minister would now get Rs 1.84 lakh per month, while the assembly speaker would get Rs 1.73 lakh and the cabinet ministers and leader of the opposition would receive Rs 1.68 lakh.

While deputy speaker would get a monthly salary and allowances of Rs 1.61 lakh, ministers of state and deputy government chief whip would get Rs 1.57 lakh, and the members would get Rs 1.5 lakh.

Parliamentary affairs minister, the ex-officio government chief whip would not receive extra benefits apart from the salary and allowances of the minister or minister of state.

The monthly salaries of chief minister, speaker, deputy speaker, minister, leader of opposition, minister of state, deputy government chief whip and the MLA were fixed at Rs 80,000 per month.

Pension of the legislators was enhanced from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000 and those elected for more than once would receive enhanced pension at Rs 5,000 per month. However, the pension amount would not exceed Rs 70,000 per month.

In the event of the death of an ex-MLA, the family pension would be 50% of the pension the ex-MLA used to draw while the death gratuity for sitting legislator was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

House building advance disbursed to each legislator was enhanced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

While the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) legislators and 5 legislators belonging to the opposition Congress supported the amendment bills, 7 independent legislators who contested and elected as a group of independents sponsored by the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) voted against the amendment bills.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that the enhanced salaries and allowances were agreed with the hope that the elected representatives would be able to serve the people better.