Even as Congress-ruled states have been flaunting their austerity drives, the state government here has been benevolent when it comes to providing more facilities to MLAs.
In a fresh move, the ruling Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot has decided to give laptops along with printers to all 200 legislators of the Rajasthan Assembly. It will cost the government exchequer around Rs 1 crore. According to sources, the state Finance Department has already set the ball rolling by clearing the proposal. This is not the first time that the MLAs will be provided with these facilities. In the previous regime too they were given computer sets worth Rs 50,000 each. However, this time they will have to return laptop and printer when their membership of the Assembly ends.
Earlier also the state government has been kind enough to shower freebies on the elected representatives. For instance, it had allowed payment of Rs 10,000 per month to the MLAs who were not using government vehicles from district vehicle pools.
Interestingly, the government also doled out sops to the former MLAs. They were exempted from paying any toll tax in the state. They were also allowed to travel in the Rajasthan roadways buses along with another person free of cost.
As per the website of the state Assembly, a Rajasthan MLA draws a salary of Rs 5,000 per month and constituency allowance of Rs 20,000 per month. He is also entitled for house rent allowance (HRA) of Rs 4,000 per month if he has not been allotted a government quarter in the state capital. He also gets Rs 75,000 per annum as rail or air travel allowance.
This is not the first occasion when the state government’s move has raised a question mark over its austerity drive. Earlier, the government drew flak from various quarters for reportedly spending crores in celebrating 50 years of panchayati raj in Nagaur on October 2. AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi was the chief guest at the function.
In a fresh move, the ruling Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot has decided to give laptops along with printers to all 200 legislators of the Rajasthan Assembly. It will cost the government exchequer around Rs 1 crore. According to sources, the state Finance Department has already set the ball rolling by clearing the proposal. This is not the first time that the MLAs will be provided with these facilities. In the previous regime too they were given computer sets worth Rs 50,000 each. However, this time they will have to return laptop and printer when their membership of the Assembly ends.
Earlier also the state government has been kind enough to shower freebies on the elected representatives. For instance, it had allowed payment of Rs 10,000 per month to the MLAs who were not using government vehicles from district vehicle pools.
Interestingly, the government also doled out sops to the former MLAs. They were exempted from paying any toll tax in the state. They were also allowed to travel in the Rajasthan roadways buses along with another person free of cost.
As per the website of the state Assembly, a Rajasthan MLA draws a salary of Rs 5,000 per month and constituency allowance of Rs 20,000 per month. He is also entitled for house rent allowance (HRA) of Rs 4,000 per month if he has not been allotted a government quarter in the state capital. He also gets Rs 75,000 per annum as rail or air travel allowance.
This is not the first occasion when the state government’s move has raised a question mark over its austerity drive. Earlier, the government drew flak from various quarters for reportedly spending crores in celebrating 50 years of panchayati raj in Nagaur on October 2. AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi was the chief guest at the function.
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