ANDALIB AKHTER
At the time when poor members of parliament were making hangama over their plight and demanding increase in their salary and other allowance in the parliament, our Crorpati representatives were mutely watching the tamasha. Perhaps they were also waiting for more money to come to their coffer.
Currently out of the 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, 315 — or 58% are crorepatis but none of them dared to open their lips as they did not need any increase in their salary or allowances. They could have said that they had enough money to feed and support their family, guest and party men.
The situation in Rajya Sabha is not too different. Nearly 100 members in the upper House are crorpati.
Here the question arises as why not the practice of ‘creamy layer’ is applied on MPs too. In Indian political system ‘creamy layer’ among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are not eligible to avail the government sponsored educational and professional programs.
Rich person who contest elections and reach parliament generally serve their business purpose, but at the same time many of such people come to parliament just to serve the people as they had already earned enough money for them and the family.
“Paisa to bahut kamaya ab kuch janta ki seva kr len” (I have earned enough money now it is time to serve the people) a Crorpati MP told me few month back, but when it came to give financial package to the members of parliament, he too keep mum.
Interestingly even the increased salary and allowance too did not have any meaning to these MPs, yet they preferred to keep mum on the issue.
On the other hand, It is also a reality that a large number of our MPs have not enough money to run their household and political life properly. I have seen such MPs in parliament. They use parliamentary cabs for transportation. I was also surprised when a Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar visited my residence in east Delhi twice as pillion rider on a motor cycle.
Certainly these people representatives in parliament deserve all help from the government and the people. But what the small amount of money does to our Carorpati MPs who own airplanes, and have all sort luxury in their lives.
If the well off MPs decline to accept government offers, certainly it could have helped thousand of poor people in the country.
Recently during a debate on private member bill meant for helping poor senior citizens, RJD leader Raghuwansh Prasad Singh vouched for grant of a Rs 3000/ per month as allowance for them. He said that the amount is less than the pension of a fourth grade employee. BJP”s Hokum Dev Narain Yadav and congress Jagdambika Pal were also advocated such help for poor old people. But there was no hurry in parliament for this. But when it comes to salary and allowances for MP it was accepted all of a sudden.
According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO that works towards strengthening democracy and governance, there are 315 crorepatis — persons whose net worth cross over Rs 1 crore — in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Further, the average asset holding of the members of the Lower House is Rs 5.33 crore. This is just the calculation based on disclosed assets, which are often not comprehensive —and do not truly reflect the standing of MPs. The pattern is universal in all parties and states, barring some exceptions.
ADR report said that of the 543 MPs in Lok Sabha 2009, 315 — or 58% — are crorepatis. This is nearly double the crorepatis who won the 2004 polls. The average declared assets across states varies from 12 lakh (Andaman & Nicobar) to Rs 18 crore (Haryana). MPs from north-eastern states have the lowest declared wealth.
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