The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill that will allow members of Parliament to use private airlines for their official purposes, provide for national roaming facility on their mobiles and enable them to avail 150,000 free local telephone calls every year.
The Salary, Allowance and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, piloted by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, provides for additional benefits and allowance to sitting and former members and their dependents.
Pension will now be given to all former MPs irrespective of their period of membership in Parliament.
With effect from the commencement of the act in this regard, a pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be paid to those who have served the provincial Parliament.
A pension of Rs 1,500 will be paid each month for a five-year period to the spouse or any dependent of a member who dies during his term.
The bill has accepted a number of recommendations by a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament.