Odisha MLA Salary-Allowance Hike: Odisha Assembly has passed four separate bills unanimously and has drastically increased the salaries and allowances of MLAs, Ministers, Chief Minister and former MLAs. After this increase, Odisha MLAs have now become the highest paid MLAs in the country, while the state lags behind many states in terms of minimum wages. According to the new law, now the monthly salary and allowances of an MLA has increased from Rs 1.11 lakh to Rs 3.45 lakh. In this way, there has been an increase of 211 percent in salaries and allowances.
Now the salary of the Chief Minister of the state has increased from Rs 98,000 to Rs 3.74 lakh, that of Ministers from Rs 97,000 to Rs 3.58 lakh and that of the Speaker from Rs 97,500 to Rs 3.68 lakh per month. This increase will be applicable retrospectively from June 2024, due to which everyone will get a huge amount of arrears. The pension of former MLAs has been increased from Rs 30,000 to Rs 80,000 per month. Along with this, a provision was also added to give a lump sum assistance amount of Rs 25 lakh to the family of any sitting MLA on his death. The most important thing is that now the salary and allowances will be automatically reviewed every five years and if needed, it can be increased through ordinance.
Earlier the salary was increased in 2017
Before this, the salaries of Odisha MLAs were last increased in 2017. After the new increase, Odisha left behind Telangana (about 2.50 lakh), Maharashtra (2.52 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (1.87 lakh), Karnataka (1.60 lakh). In Delhi, MLAs get Rs 90,000 and in Kerala only Rs 70,000 monthly. State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling defended the hike, saying that salaries had not increased since 2018, inflation had increased a lot and Odisha was lagging behind compared to other states.
He also cited the recommendations of the Assembly Advisory Committee. The interesting thing is that this demand came from all parties. BJD’s seven-time MLA Pramila Malik had demanded a two and a half times increase. Members of Congress and BJP also supported it by comparing it with other states. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi himself had advocated salary increase in 2022 while being the Chief Whip of the Opposition. As a result, all four bills were passed within minutes without a single opposition.
However, the economic condition of the state presents the opposite picture. The per capita income of Odisha stood at Rs 1,82,548 in the year 2023-24, which is much lower than the national average of Rs 2,05,324. The minimum monthly wage for unskilled workers in the state is around Rs 12,012, while in Delhi it is Rs 18,460. Out of the present 147 MLAs, 73 percent i.e. 107 MLAs are crorepatis. This is the highest in the history of Odisha Assembly.
