Re: Salary for legislators.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabhlok@almaak.usc.edu>]

I think this is a point that all of us can readily support. The question
of how funds will come in for this is not critical; the purpose of it is.

An MLA/ MP in power today makes much more than this amount: definitely in
the range of many lakhs of rupees, through patronage, transfers and
postings of officials, bribe collection, etc. The official salary is so
low that nobody in his right sense would enter politics. Therefore a
majority of those who enter are either already rich or are quite
shameless in creaming off whatever they can, from their jobs.

Ensuring that an MLA makes an official Rs. 5 lakhs per year and an MP
about Rs. 8 lakhs or so, will have two effects (both not welcomed by
existing political groups, unfortunately):

a) Many well-educated, honest, middle-class folk will try to enter
politics. Many of these people can easily make Rs. 3-5 lakhs at today's
rates in the private sector. Therefore the incentive will be just right
for them to take the risk of forsaking an existing "secure" career in
favor of entering an area where if they do moderately well, at least they
will be able to feed their family and send their child to a good school
(fundamental priorities of a middle-class person). We need to pluck out
our middle class intellengtsia from their secure, tiny, jobs, and induce
them to enter politics, the main area of public service, properly defined.

b) Among those who are already in this "career" of politics, there will be
at least some who will cut down (if not eliminate) their bad "habits" of
squeezing out money from every "favor" they grant. If an average MLA/MP is
assured the life that is enjoyed by an average private medical
practitioner, then there is hope that he/she will cut down on corruption.

I think Puneet or someone (I can help, too) can start compiling those
views that are generally supported and send them over to me in a mail. I
will place these on a web page which can be entitled "An Ideal Manifesto
in Process" and "An Ideal Agenda in Process." 

Views that are still controversial (i.e., with differences amongst us) can
be sorted out at length, in due course, but we should have the sense of
accomplishment of having agreed to some points, as time passes by, by
watching our "list of agreements" growing.

How does that sound? 

Sanjeev
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On Fri, 17 Apr 1998, Suresh Anand wrote:

> I fully support the following proposal from Utkarsh. I wud say you need a
> mimimum of Rs. 40-50,000 pm plus free decent housing and other usual civil
> service benefits to attract the right kind.
> 
> suresh
> 
> 
> 
> 
> HI EveryOne:
> 
> Just a thought. As a group we should ask our legislators and lawmakers to
> be paid
> well to do a good job. In my understanding, it will bring educated and able
> individuals
> to give a second look for a career in legislative branch of government. Any
> body
> has any idea how much an MLA and MP makes? I have read some numbers.  But
> would like
> to hear a factual number. Can anyone propose a salary for such important
> positions
> to reform India's policy making?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Utkarsh Kansal  
> 
> 
>