The riot police fired several rounds of tear gas on thousands of stone -pelting students trying to reach Parliament in the capital of Indonesia. These students arrived there to oppose the grand allowances of the Members of Parliament. The protesters were angry with the recent reports that 580 members of the House of Representatives are getting housing allowance of 50 million rupees (SD 3,075) per month from September 2024. The allowance given to MPs per month is 20 times more than income for an Indonesian citizen. 580 members of Indonesia’s Parliament are being given as a housing allowance from September 2024 to Rs 5 crore ($ 3,075). There is corruption in Indonesia and activists say that in a country with a population of more than 28 crores, police and Parliament members are widely considered corrupt. Looking at the attitude of the leaders, it seems that such situations are being created in India too. Ministers, MP-MLAs are truly no more concern than the condition of the people of the country. In the monsoon session of Parliament, 120 hours were fixed for discussion in the Lok Sabha, but only 37 hours were discussed. Due to the uproar, the public lost several hundred crores of money. Due to frequent disruption, only one third of the time was actively run actively. In this, a large part was discussed on Operation Sindoor. Most of the time was spent in the uproar, the bills were passed without adequate discussion. Despite asking 285 questions in the Rajya Sabha, only 14 questions were answered during the session. For 20 consecutive days, opposition parties associated with the India block created a ruckus and demonstrations inside and outside the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the revision of the voter list in Bihar. Due to this, the proceedings of both the houses were disrupted. In his closing speech on the last day of the monsoon session, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha said that overall, the House was only 41 hours and 15 minutes. The productivity of this session was disappointing just 38.88 percent, which is a matter of serious self -consciousness. From this, it can be guessed how serious the elected public representatives are for the interest of the country.
No work, no salary, no one raises any voice on this issue in Parliament. Whether or not Parliament is functioning for any reason, it does not matter to MPs. They get full salary-allowance. On the basis of not working, there is no discussion about the cut. Umesh Patel, an independent MP of the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, was the only MP to raise this demand. He had said that if the House does not run, then MPs should not get allowance. He claimed that MPs get allowance, but the work of the public could not be done. He had alleged that the House is not being allowed to run due to the Igo of both power and the opposition, while the opposition parties are blaming the government. He said that if there is no work in the House, the salary and other benefits of MPs should be stopped. In order to stop the action of Parliament, the ruling party and the opposition blast each other, but when it comes to increasing salary and allowances, everyone becomes one together. There is no debate on this. How much the productivity of MPs was in lieu of salary and allowances is not even analyzed. When the country celebrates the 79th Independence Day, then even 79 hours in the monsoon session did not run in the monsoon session. The monsoon session of the country’s Parliament did not work for 83 hours in the Lok Sabha. Due to this, the money of 124 crore 50 lakh rupees was wasted. 73 hours in Rajya Sabha stalled, this made 80 crore rupees in vain. Meaning 204 crore 50 lakh rupees were ruined in both houses. In Parliament, where MPs cannot work for an hour, the public sends them 5-5 years. 93 percent of the MPs sitting in Parliament are millionaires, who currently get one lakh 24 thousand rupees every month. Parliamentary constituency allowance is 84 thousand rupees. The daily allowance is 2500 rupees for MPs. By adding salary allowance, every MP is given two lakh 54 thousand rupees every month with public money. MPs do not leave any opportunity to stop the action of Parliament by creating a ruckus in the name of country interest, but when it comes to increasing salary and allowances, everyone becomes one. Last year, the salary of Members of Parliament was increased by 24 percent. The new salary was considered effective from 1 April 2023. Along with this, the monthly salary of MPs has been increased to Rs 1.24 lakh in addition to some allowances and facilities. The government said that in view of increasing inflation, the salary of MPs was increased. At the same time, additional pension was announced for each year on service of more than five years for former members. It said that the daily allowance has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.
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The pension of former MPs was increased from Rs 25,000 per month to Rs 31,000 per month. The additional pension for each year on service of more than five years was increased from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 2,500 per month. He has been given this facility under the 1954 MP Salary, Allowance and Pension Act. Every five years, the salary and allowance of MPs is reviewed every five years since the review 2018. This review is based on inflation. In 2018, the law was amended for the salaries and allowances of MPs. MPs get accommodation from hostels to two -bedroom flats and bungalows in Central Delhi at Vitthalbhai Patel (VP) House. They are also given funds for electricity, water, telephone and internet charges. Constant uproar in Parliament resulted in long -term adjournment in both houses which eventually affects the creation of public policy in the House. India is one of the largest democracy in the world, where everyone has their own voice with their opinion on policy, but this long disturbance is reducing the ability of Parliament. What results do we get at the end of the day, and how much we benefit from discussion? Parliament makes its rules and regulations, following those rules and regulations for effective functioning of legislative bodies is dependent on members. How long will this happen? Parliament will have to come with internal investigation and balance on both personal levels and party levels. Repeated disruption can be imposed proportional. A Parliament Interruption Index can be prepared on which automatic suspension of disruption can be implemented. Also, the working days of Parliament should be increased. Continuous disruption is becoming a new criteria that increases the lack of trust between parties. This trend is poor for breach in a healthy democracy and fairness of the parliamentary system.
– Yogendra Yogi