An independent research conducted by IndianJobsOnline.com aimed to gain an understanding
of the correlation between low paid law makers and corruption in India.
The main reason for corruption in Indian parliament or state assemblies is that
these public representatives are very low paid. Going by their monthly salary slips, yes,
Indian parliamentarians and MLAs are poorly paid especially when you compare
an MP's salary to that of an Indian Inc chief executive officer,
a software engineer or even an office administrator.
MPs have been raising their salaries and allowances over the years
on a voice vote without any protests in parliament but this increase is not even close enough to
that of an office clerk's annual salary.
Since 1954, the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act
have been amended 26 times but failed to curve corruption
and address the real issue of low paid salary. The Act consists of various rules dealing with
travelling and daily allowances such as housing, telephone,
medical facilities, constituency allowances, journeys abroad,
other conveyances and office expenses.
This research blames the Indian government for not taking
any realistic measures to curve the corruption amongst the lawmakers.
With every law maker is associated a high society lifestyle along with
family responsibility but in fact their actual salary is not realistic enough to survive
this high society lifestyle and support their family needs.
Education and social events such as marriage are examples
of high costs associated with a law maker. With this in mind, is impossible for any law maker to resist corruption.
Although MP's and MLA's are entitled to get numerous allowances
and various other benefits; their current salary still seems to be unfair as just buying a one bedroom
flat will cost them more than Rs 10 lakh.
IndianJobsOnline.com has suggested what is believed to be a
realistic pay scale for every MP and MLA as follows:
Prime Minister - Rs 18 lakh per annum.
MP's - Rs 12 lakh per annum.
Union Ministers - Rs 15 lakh per annum.
Chief Ministers - Rs 15 lakh per annum.
State Ministers - Rs 12 lakh per annum.
MLA's - Rs 9 lakh per annum.
This will entitle them better paid salaries for their current role
as public representatives and will prevent their involvement in corruption
and this will drastically improve their efficiency. Also, this proposed pay scale will put an estimated Rs.50 Crore
additional burden each year on the tax payers in India but this will also reduce almost Rs.1000 Crore worth of corruption
amongst law makers and their family members.
In UK and USA law makers enjoy high salaries and other allowances
and still there is very rarely a case of corruption
but in India this is not the case as they are underpaid.
The IndianJobsOnline.com team would urge the media to create an environment
where this issue is addressed seriously as a corruption prevention measure
because this issue affects each and every individual in India.
This research is based on findings from secondary materials
such as the World Wide Web, and other information published in different news papers.
London Based NRI Mr. Ujjawal Bhardwaj would like to take
an opportunity to thank the IndianJobsOnline.com team and the Indian media
who have given their valuable time and opinions to conduct this research.
|
|
