Mizoram House passes bills on reduction of Minister, MLA salary

AIZAWL, March 27 ? Mizoram assembly Tuesday passed five amendment bills reducing the salaries and allowances of the ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, deputy chief whip, opposition leader and members of the assembly, reports PTI. The bills were introduced and moved by F Malsawma, minister for Parliamentary Affairs and were passed by the legislature. The former Chief Minister Brig T Sailo and Col Lalchungnunga Sailo were not present during the voting. The two Sailos were present in the House as the amendment bill envisaged that a former legislator have to chose a single pension benefit even if he was a retired soldier or civil pensioner. The amendment bill would reduce the total emoluments of ministers by around Rs 12,500 while it would reduce the total emoluments of legislators by Rs 2,000 per month. The salaries and allowances of the ministers and legislators were increased to a great extent in 1999 under severe criticism from the general public as the total emoluments of a legislator was enhanced beyond Rs 20,000 a month. Malsawma said that the bill had to be introduced due to the acute fiscal crunch faced by the State government.