What’s inside:
This article discusses the pension system for former MLAs in Bihar, highlighting how some receive pensions much higher than their actual salaries, raising questions about fairness and public service.
In Bihar, there’s a big talk about the pensions that former MLAs receive. While the current salary for assembly members is around Rs 50,000, the pension system is quite generous. Many ex-MLAs end up getting pensions that are even higher than their salaries, which is causing a lot of discussions among the public.
The pension rules are set in a way that any MLA gets a pension of Rs 45,000 per month after just one term. This amount increases by Rs 4,000 each year. So, after five years, it can reach Rs 61,000, and after twenty years, it can go up to Rs 1.21 lakh. This means the longer someone is in power, the more benefits they get.
Not everyone gets the same pension. The amount depends on how long the MLA has served. For example, if someone has been an MLA for ten years, they will get an additional Rs 40,000 on top of the basic pension. This creates a large gap between what different former MLAs receive.
The highest pensioner is Satyadev Narayan Arya, who receives Rs 1.73 lakh monthly. Other notable pensioners include Bima Bharti, who gets Rs 1.33 lakh, and Jagdish Sharma, who receives Rs 1.65 lakh. Additionally, former MLAs enjoy benefits like travel coupons worth Rs 2 lakh and free medical facilities for themselves and their spouses.
This entire pension structure raises questions among the people about whether it serves the public or just the politicians. Many wonder if such benefits are fair when many citizens struggle to earn even a fraction of that amount in a month. This situation calls for a closer look at how these pensions are justified in the context of public service.
Summary:
- Former MLAs in Bihar receive generous pensions, sometimes higher than their salaries.
- The basic pension starts at Rs 45,000 and increases with years served.
- Satyadev Narayan Arya tops the list with a pension of Rs 1.73 lakh.
- Former MLAs also enjoy additional benefits like travel coupons and healthcare.
- This raises public concerns about fairness and the use of taxpayer money.
