Odisha MLA salary hike: Legislators give themselves threefold jump from Rs 1.11 lakh to Rs 3.45 lakh a month

Odisha MLA salary hike: Odisha has officially approved a massive salary revision for its lawmakers, tripling their monthly earnings and making it one of the highest MLA pay packages in India. The revised salary structure applies retrospectively from June 2024, when the 17th Assembly was constituted.

Odisha MLA Salary Hike: What Has Changed?

The Odisha Assembly passed four key amendment bills that increased the monthly package of MLAs from around Rs 1.11 lakh to Rs 3.45 lakh. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling confirmed that the hike received unanimous support across parties.

The enhanced package includes salary, allowances and other benefits. Members had been demanding a revision since 2007, arguing that the existing pay did not reflect their workload or rising living costs.

Odisha MLA Salary Hike: Full Breakdown of the New Package

Under the new structure, a sitting MLA will now receive:

• Rs 90,000 as basic salary
• Rs 75,000 as constituency/secretarial allowance
• Rs 50,000 as conveyance allowance
• Rs 10,000 for books, journals and periodicals
• Rs 20,000 as electricity allowance
• Rs 50,000 as fixed travelling allowance
• Rs 35,000 as medical allowance
• Rs 15,000 as telephone allowance
• Combined, this totals Rs 3,45,000 per month.

The bills also include a provision to revise salaries, allowances and pensions every five years and even allow future hikes through ordinance without needing a new bill.

Odisha MLA Salary Hike: Pay for CM, Ministers and Other Office-Bearers

The revised salaries will also benefit top office-bearers of the state government. As per the amendment:

• Chief Minister: Rs 3,74,000 per month
• Speaker & Deputy Chief Minister: Rs 3,68,000
• Cabinet Ministers & Leader of Opposition: Rs 3,62,000
• Minister of State & Deputy Speaker: Rs 3,56,000
• Government Chief Whip: Rs 3,62,000
• Deputy Chief Whip: Rs 3,50,000

This puts Odisha among the highest-paying states for public representatives.

Odisha MLA Salary Hike: Pension for Former MLAs Also Increased

Former MLAs will now receive Rs 1.17 lakh per month, including:

• Rs 80,000 as pension
• Rs 25,000 as medical allowance
• Rs 12,500 as travelling allowance

Additionally, each completed term will add Rs 3,000 to the pension amount.

The package also ensures Rs 25 lakh assistance to the family of any sitting MLA in the event of death.

Odisha MLA Salary Hike: Why Lawmakers Supported It

Members across party lines backed the bills, calling the revision “necessary” to match current responsibilities and economic conditions.

Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik said the increased pension would especially help ageing and unwell former MLAs who struggle with healthcare expenses.

Inputs from agencies