Indian Express 03.08.2010
MC councillors demand five-fold increase in pay, pass resolution
Khushboo Sandhu Tags : corporation Posted: Tue Aug 03 2010, 03:51 hrs
Chandigarh: Chandigarh Municipal Corporation councillors have passed a resolution demanding five-fold increase in their salaries as well as laptops. The proposal would be sent to the UT Administration for approval.It is not the first time that such a resolution has been passed by the councillors; but those sent earlier had been rejected by the Administration. The proposal was mooted by councillor Pam Rajput. She said a similar proposal has been mooted in the Parliament to increase the salaries of the MPs five times from Rs 16,000 to Rs 80,000; the salaries of the councillors should also be increased on these lines.
At present, the salary of the councillors is Rs 5,000 a month; the proposal wants it to be increased to Rs 25,000. It has also been proposed that the honorarium paid for attending the House Meet be increased to Rs 500 from Rs 200 at present.
The councillors further proposed that the long-pending demand of laptops be fulfilled. The councillors unanimously resolved that these proposals be sent to the UT Administration for approval.
Councillor MPS Chawla said: “There should be an increase in the salary being given to the councillors: especially the elected councillors, who have a number of overhead expenses, as they have to move around in their wards and ensure that public work is done. There should be suitable remuneration.”
Last year also, the councillors had proposed an increase in their pay packets. That had included an increase in the reimbursement for telephone bills. However, the Administration had turned it down.
The demand for laptops is being raised for the last few years. In 2007, the proposal had been rejected by the Administration; the attempts made in the subsequent years did not bear fruit either. Last year, the councillors also attended computer classes with the hope that they would receive laptops. Councillor Anju Beniwala said they are hopeful of a positive response this time.
“The UT Administrator has a very positive approach, which is evident from the fact that the process of transfer of additional functions to the MC has started. The salaries should be increased as this would boost the morale of the councillors,” she said.
