Govt effects 30% cut in MPs perks to meet COVID-19 exigencies

The Centre on Tuesday ordered a 30 percent cut in the constituency allowance and stationery expenses of all MPs. The decision was taken a day after effecting a similar cut in their salaries to “meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic".

New Delhi:A day after promulgating an ordinance amending 30 per cent cut in salaries of President, Prime Minister, Vice President, Governors and all Members of Parliament (MPs), the Centre on Tuesday in a notification further enforced a 30 per cent cut in constituency allowances and stationery expenses of MPs.

The ordinance was issued "to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic".

From a salary of Rs one lakh, the MPs will now get Rs 70,000 per month.

With regard to allowances, according to the orders, a 30-per cent cut has been affected in Constituency Allowance of Rs 70,000 per month of each MP, bringing it to Rs 21,000 per month.

"Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 2, a member shall be entitled to receive the constituency allowance under section 8 of the salary, allowances and pension of members of Parliament Act, 1954 (30 of 1954), at the rate of rupees forty-nine thousand per mensem (month) for the period from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021," the government said in a notification.

Of the Rs 60,000 Office Allowance per month, each MP will now get Rs 14,000 towards stationery as against Rs 20,000 per month earlier.

However, there's no change in the pension received by MPs.

An MP gets Rs 40,000 in the head of the salary for staff and Rs 20,000 to meet stationary expenses and postages per month. While the staff salary head has been left untouched, a 30 per cent cut has been affected in their stationary expenses.

President Ramnath Kovind approved the Ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pensions of MP Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pensions by 30 per cent with effect from April 1, 2020, up to March 2021.

The decision was taken by the government to meet the economic challenges generated by COVID-19 and the subsequent 21-day lockdown.