Indian MPs To Take 30% Pay Cut for 1 Year

MPLADS Fund to be suspended and the money will go to Consolidated Fund of India which will be used to help in coronavirus fight.

New Delhi: In a move that will help the country mobilise funds to fight against Covid 19 pandemic, the Centre has cleared an Ordinance on Monday proposing a 30 per cent cut in salary, allowances and pension. In a press briefing Union minister for information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said the Cabinet has approved the Ordinance amending the salary, allowances, and pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30 per cent effective 1st April, 2020 for a year. He added, MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) Fund will be suspended and the money will go to the Consolidated Fund of India which will be used to help in coronavirus fight. President, vice-president and all the governors have also decided to take a 30 percent cut in salary for a year.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has announced that he would give 30 per cent of his annual salary to the PM CARES Fund. The fund has been set up on March 28 following the coronavirus outbreak in the country. India has reported a surge of 700 new cases in the last 24 hours taking the total count to 4,067, according to the latest data from Health Ministry. The death toll has spiked to 109 while 291 have recovered. The latest data showed Maharashtra (690) as the worst affected state, followed by Tamil Nadu (571) and Delhi (503). (With agency inputs)