Salary Boost for Tripura's CM, Ministers, and MLAs

Agartala, Jan 15 (NationPress) The remuneration for Tripura's Ministers and MLAs is poised to rise by more than 81 to 92 percent, and legislators will receive comprehensive retirement benefits, including a pension.

A Bill reflecting this change was approved by the Tripura State Assembly on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of the winter session.

The Ninth Amendment Bill related to the Salaries, Allowances, Pensions, and Other Benefits for the Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition (LoP), the government Chief Whip, and Assembly Members was passed unanimously.

Under this Bill, any MLA will be entitled to retirement benefits if they have served as a member of the House for even a single day.

The Bill outlines a salary increase for the Chief Minister to Rs 97,000, the Deputy Chief Minister to Rs 96,000, Ministers, Speaker, LoP, and Chief Whip to Rs 95,000, the Deputy Speaker to Rs 94,000, and each MLA to Rs 93,000.

A senior official from the Tripura Assembly indicated that the last salary increment for Ministers and MLAs occurred in 2019. Prior to the Ninth Amendment Bill, salaries according to the previous Act were as follows: Chief Minister Rs 53,630, Deputy Chief Minister Rs 52,630, Ministers, Speaker, LoP, and Chief Whip Rs 51,780, Deputy Speaker Rs 50,510, and MLA Rs 48,420.

“In comparison to the previous law, the new legislation will result in salary increments for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs ranging from 81 to 92 percent,” the official informed IANS.

In addition to salaries, the Chief Minister, Ministers, Assembly Speaker, LoP, Chief Whip, and MLAs benefit from numerous allowances, including sumptuary, hospitality, conveyance, travelling, dearness, constituency, postal, telephone, and house rent allowances.

The proposed pensions for former MLAs will rise to Rs 66,000 and Rs 48,000 from Rs 34,500 and Rs 25,000, respectively.

The Ninth Amendment Bill aims to grant all retirement benefits, including pensions, to MLAs who have served for even a day.

Previously, as per the 2022 amendment, only those who served for at least four-and-a-half years were eligible for these benefits.

Law (Parliamentary Affairs) Minister Ratan Lala Nath stated that the last adjustment to salaries, allowances, pensions, and other financial benefits for the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, other Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, LoP, Chief Whip, and MLAs was made in 2019 through the Fifth Amendment Act. Given the rise in the price index, it has become essential to significantly revise the pay structure of these officials with this further amendment,” he stated.

Nath further noted that while Chief Ministers, Ministers, and MLAs in Telangana receive the highest salaries and allowances nationally, their counterparts in Tripura are at the bottom tier.

“Elected officials frequently provide financial assistance to those in need within their constituencies. Many families of former MLAs and Ministers are facing economic hardships,” he remarked.

LoP Jitendra Chowdhury, also CPI(M) Tripura state Secretary and former minister, remarked that with the Ninth Amendment Bill, the salaries of Ministers and MLAs would nearly double.

“The need for salary increases for Ministers and MLAs is justified, but the process must be fair and legitimate,” he emphasized during the session.

The Winter Session of the Tripura Assembly commenced on January 10. State Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu delivered his customary address to the Assembly, marking the first session of the new year (2025). In his speech, the Governor outlined the state government's achievements and vision, alongside its future roadmap.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be reached at sujitchakrabortyne@gmail.com)