Representational Image | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the Kerala government is facing an unprecedented financial crisis, the ministers and MLAs are likely to get a salary hike.
Justice CN Ramachandran Nair commission, constituted to study the possibility of raising the salary of legislators, has proposed an allowance hike of 35 per cent. The commission report, which was submitted to Speaker AN Shamseer last week, has been handed over to the chief minister.
Currently, ministers, opposition leader and the chief whip receive a total of Rs 96,000 as salary and allowance. It is learnt that the commission has proposed to hike this amount to Rs 1.2 lakh, while raising that of MLAs from Rs 70,000 to above Rs 1 lakh.
In addition, the commission has also proposed a hike of up to 35 per cent in case of tour fares, phone and medical allowances. The legislators' pension, which is about Rs 8,000 - Rs 20,000, will be raised to Rs 11,000 - Rs 27,000.
The salaries of ministers and MLAs were last hiked in 2018. If the cabinet approves the commission report, then it will be introduced as a bill in the Assembly before March 30.