The Pioneer 28.06.2010
It’s councillors’ turn to demand pay hikeStaff Reporter | New Delhi
Taking a leaf out of MPs’ book, Municipal councillors in Delhi are now demanding fixed salaries and increase in their allowances. But, they seemed to be undecided over what their salary should be — with demands ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 30,000. The issue was raised by Leader of Opposition in MCD Jai Kishan Sharma at a meeting of the MCD Standing Committee. “MPs and MLAs are getting salary hike, but councillors do not have a fixed salary. This despite the fact that people approach us first whenever they face any problem,” he said. Several councillors from the ruling BJP supported him.
BJP councillor Vijay Prakash Pandey pointed out that the MCD had earlier sent a proposal to the Delhi Government for fixing a salary for MCD members, but it did not forward it further to the Centre. The MCD councillors at present get an allowance of Rs. 300 for attending each meeting of the civic body’s Standing Committee and the House. Delhi Mayor Prithvi Raj Sawhney later demanded that councillors should get at least Rs. 10,000 per month. Ruling BJP councillor Rajni Abbi said the allowance per meeting should also be raised.
Meanwhile, MCD Works Committee Chairman Jagdish Mamgain said he had written a letter to the Lieutenant Governor to make provision of pay and allowances to the councillors. “Members of Parliament have raised their pay and allowances. Salaries and perls of members of the Delhi Assembly have also been hiked. Why Municipal councillors are ignored?” he asked. A councillor is getting only Rs. 300 per meeting, which is at the most Rs. 900-1,200 a month as only 3-4 meetings are held every month, he said. Mamgain urged the L-G to sanction Rs. 30,000 per month salary to councillors and demanded that the meeting allowance be raised from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,000.
“Councillors do more work than MLAs and hence they should get more salary as compared to MLAs. Moreover, councillors are more approachable and easily accessible to the public. They must be granted adequate monetary incentives too,” said Subhash Arya, leader of the MCD House.
