Srinagar, Jun 27: The House Committee, constituted to examine the demand for enhancement of salaries and allowances of legislators, on Friday convened a meeting at the Assembly Complex, Srinagar. The meeting was presided over by Committee Chairman Surjeet Singh Slathia and was attended by members, including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Sajad Gani Lone, Hasnain Masoodi, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Arjun Singh Raju and Muzaffar Iqbal Khan.
During the meeting, the chairman acknowledged the demand for a hike in salaries and allowances of legislators, ex-legislators and assistants, assuring that the matter will be considered positively. He emphasised the need to adopt best practices from other States and Union Territories to address the issue effectively and at the earliest.
The committee held a detailed discussion on the salary structures of legislators in other states. The members raised concerns regarding pension-related benefits for ex-legislators and strongly advocated for addressing these issues.
Additionally, the demand for an increase in the allowances of assistants was deliberated upon, with members unanimously supporting the proposal for a revision.
The chairman urged all members to submit their suggestions in writing to contribute constructively to the report. He informed that a comprehensive report will be submitted to the Assembly ahead of the next session for appropriate consideration and action.
The meeting also discussed the need for revisions to house loan and car loan benefits for the legislators. Issues related to fuel cap for daily use, hike in allowances including stationery, medical, house, sanctuary, Constituency and other allowances were also discussed during the meeting.
