AP MLAs set to get major salary hike

The Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, which could not transact any business for more than a week because of the deadlock over the issue of land allocations to the private companies by the previous governments, is all set to increase the salaries and allowances of its members.

The house will discuss a bill on Monday or Tuesday to effect a massive increment in the salaries and allowances of both the sitting and former members. At present, the members are drawing a salary and allowances of Rs 38,600 per month. But if the bill is passed next week, the same will be tripled.

According to the proposals in the bill, the new pay package for the members of legislative assembly will include a salary of Rs 15,000 per month and total allowances of Rs 75,000 per month.

As far the pensions go, a member who served for one term will get Rs 15,000, a two-term former member will get Rs 20,000 and a three-term former members will draw a pension of Rs 25,000 per month.

Assembly session in villages

Meanwhile a senior minister has suggested that the state legislative session need not be held only in Hyderabad but it can also be taken to remote villages to discuss the local and regional problems to find a solution for them.

Manikya Vara Prasad Rao proposed that the assembly session can be held in remote villages of all the three regions of Telangana, Andhra and Rayala Seema on rotation basis. He invited the political parties to discuss the idea so that the elected representatives can focus their attention on the local issues more sharply.

"We don't need big buildings to conduct the assembly sessions. They can be conducted even under the tents," he said.