The BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), on Tuesday introduced allowances with whopping hike in existing ones for Mayor, Deputy Mayors, Leader of the House, Standing Committee Chairman, Leader of Opposition and councillors. The Corporation proposed an allowance of Rs 15,000 for the top brass and Rs 10,000 for councillors besides Rs 1,000 instead of existing Rs 300 per meeting for every councillor.
In addition to this, the civic body, claimed to be reeling under severe financial crisis, also sought facilities like laptops, phone reimbursement, etc for the elected members. The move of the ruling party enjoyed support of the opposition-AAP and Congress- as they demanded the same in first meeting of the House since its formation.
A proposal moved by Shikha Rai, a BJP councillor, sought Rs 15,000 for Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Leader of the House, Standing Committee Chairman, Leader of Opposition while Rs 10,000 councillors as honorarium. As per the proposal, allowance for attending Corporation meeting should be Rs 1,000 for each participation and Rs 6,000 per month for office and stationary expenses for each councillor. The proposal also sought allowance nearly Rs 5, 000 per month for computer operator and a same amount for refreshment.
AAP MLA from Tilak Nagar, Jarnail Singh, while participating in the House proceeding, demanded Rs 14,000 per month salary for computer operators.
"Considering nature of work of an elected representative, the Corporation should have provision of adequate allowances. Without meeting expenses, whether a Mayor or a councillor, he or she can't run office. The provision of allowances are already in Lok Shabha, Rajya Shaba, state assemblies and local bodies in our country, the need of the hour is that the same should be implemented here also. Here, the purpose of resolution is to serve people better hence we request the House to pass it accordingly and to forward it to Delhi government and L-G so that they could send it to Central Government for the final approval," said Rai.
The BJP councillor also proposed that there should an allowance of Rs 2,000 for mobile bills for each councillor as working without digital means of communication is not possible in this age. The resolution also demanded laptop for councillors for paperless work. "The previous Corporation had all these facilities so the same should carry forward to the newly elected body too,' she added.