Bill on ex-MPs pension hike passed

NEW DELHI: A bill seeking to increase the minimum pension of former MPs by Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 per month was passed in Lok Sabha with the government assuring the House that any revision in emoluments of MPs would be done in a holistic manner avoiding piece-meal measures.
The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, passed by a voice vote, also hikes by Rs 100 to Rs 600 the additional pension that is given to MPs for membership of every year in excess of five years.
Winding up a brief discussion, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Santosh Kumar Gangwar said "Government has no intention to bring piece-meal measures. In future, we will take decisions (regarding MPs'' salary and pension) in a holistic and comprehensive manner".
He said the present amendment has been necessitated due to a minor error in the revision of salary and pension carried out last year.
P R Dasmunsi (Cong) and V Radhakrishnan said the government should come out with a comprehensive amendment instead of resorting to piece-meal measures.
The hike has been given with retrospective effect from September 14, 2001. The minimum pension is payable to MPs who have at least four years of membership of either House of Parliament.