The privileges given in subsidy are mulcted from the overburdened common man and why shouldn't the parliamentarians be the first ones to take the onus and set an example of being a model citizen to earn greater public trust.
Below we break down the figures and find out what an Indian MP is entitled to get from the government, and how they can use it.
Member of Parliamentarians – Subsidy
Number of MPs at centre
Lok Sabha – 545
Rajya Sabha – 245
Total MPs – 790 members
Number of MLAs in different states
Total MLAs in the country – 4,120 (Salaries and facilities different in states)
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Salary and facilities of MPs
Monthly Salary – Rs. 100,000
Daily Allowance - Rs. 2,000/- per day for each day of residence on duty (Parliament in session)
(Daily Allowance shall be paid only when a member signs the register maintained for the purpose)
Constituency Allowance – Rs. 70,000
Office Expense Allowance – Rs. 45,000 [Out of these, Rs. 15,000/- for meeting expenses on stationery items and postage, and Rs. 30,000/)
(The salary and daily allowance of members shall be increased after every five years commencing from 1st April, 2023 on the basis of Cost Inflation Index)
Pension - The Pension of Ex-MPs has been raised from Rs. 20,000/- per month to Rs. 25,000/- per month and additional pension of Rs. 15,00/- per month has also been increased to Rs.2,000/- per month for every year served in excess of five years.
Travelling Allowance
Air Travel Facility - Every member has been given the facility to avail 34 single air journeys during a year with spouse or any number of companions or relatives.
The balance of unused air journeys for a year shall be carried over to the following year
Rail Travel Facility - A member, on the strength of the Identity Card, is entitled to travel at any time by any railway in India in first class air-conditioned or executive class.
(Member to be accompanied by one person in air-conditioned two-tier)
By Road - Rs. 16/- per km
Regular Accommodation
Each member is entitled to a rent free flat or hostel accommodation throughout the term of office.
Other Facilities
Washing of sofa covers and curtains every three months (Five year term - 20 times)
Furniture within the monetary ceiling of Rs. 60,000 in respect of durable furniture and Rs. 15,000 for non-durable furniture
Telephone facilities
A member is entitled to have three telephones
50,000 local calls during a year are free on each of the three telephones ( 1,50,000 local calls in a year)
Water and Electricity
4000 kilolitre of water and 50,000 units of electricity per annum beginning from 1 January of every year is supplied free of cost at the residence
(The unutilized units of electricity and water are carried over to the subsequent years)
Medical Facilities
A Member of Parliament is entitled to same medical facilities as are available to the Class-I officers of Central Civil Services, under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
Income Tax Facilities
For the purpose of income tax, the salary and allowances received by member are taxed under the head “income from other sources”
Consequently, no income-tax is deducted at source.
The daily allowance and constituency allowance are exempt from income tax.
Purchase of computers
Desktop, Laptop, Printer, Scanner, Palmtop, e-Reader etc. within the monetary ceiling of Rs. 2 Lakh
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Spending on MPs (2014 to 2018) – Four Years
Salary and perks of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members – Rs. 1,997 crore (Four Years)
Spending on Lok Sabha members – Rs. 1,554 crore
Spending on Rajya Sabha members – Rs. 443 crore
Average spending annually on Parliamentarians
Lok Sabha Members
Average spent on Lok Sabha member – Rs. 71,29,390 annually (71.29 lakh)
Monthly spend – Rs. 5.94 lakh
Rajya Sabha Members
Average spent on Rajya Sabha member – Rs. 44,33,682 annually (44.33 lakh)
Monthly spend – Rs. 3.69 lakh
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Give up Subsidy
March 2015 - Give Up LPG Subsidy is a campaign that was launched by PM Modi.
It is aimed at motivating LPG users who are able to afford to pay the market price for LPG to voluntarily surrender their LPG subsidy
Give up LPG Subsidy - Nearly 1.04 crore LPG consumers voluntarily surrender their LPG subsidy under 'GiveItUp' campaign
Estimated savings due to ‘GiveItUp’ campaign during Financial Year 2018-19: Rs. 2,930 crore.
Ujjwala Gas Connections - 7,34,92,401 (7.34 crore)
Senior citizens in train tickets - Give up subsidy
From 15th August, 2016 to 31st March, 2018: About 48 lakh esteemed senior citizens have voluntarily given up concessions resulting in benefit of Rs. 78 crore savings to Railways from this single initiative.
At present, male senior citizens get 40 per cent while women get 50 per cent concession on the total fare.
Cost of train ticket
Indian Railways recovers only 53 per cent of the cost of a ticket from a passenger
The remaining 47 per cent is given as subsidy to the passengers.
Railways earns - About ₹50,000 crore by selling tickets.
'Give it up' scheme (Earning for Railways) - Rs. 56,000 crore in 2019-20
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