Bhopal: The State Government has decided to increase the pension of former Chief Ministers (CMs) by over 600 per cent.
The decision of the whopping hike in pension was taken by the Madhya Pradesh Government on Saturday which stated that the pension of ex-CMs in the State will be increased from Rs 26,000 to Rs 1.70 lakh.
The decision of seven times hike was taken after a pension review committee appointed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan submitted its report last week.
The pension will not be provided to ex-CM of Madhya Pradesh if the minister occupies a portfolio in the Union or the State Ministry, Chouhan draws salary of Rs 2 lakh per month, reported Daily pioneer.
In March this year in a state cabinet meeting, legislators in Madhya Pradesh gave nod for the rise in the salary and perks of members after a gap of six years. The cabinet was headed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Both the BJP and Congress had demanded upward revision of salaries of the lawmakers. The decision was taken on Wednesday March 30, 2016 at the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The government gave a go-ahead for the rise in the salary and perks of members of the MP Assembly after a gap of six years.
With the current decision, the salaries and allowances of MLAs in MP will reach Rs1.10 lakh from Rs71,000 per month. Salaries of Chief Ministers will rise to Rs2 lakh from Rs1.43 lakh per month. The pay packet of Speakers in Madhya Pradesh will rise to Rs1.85 lakh from Rs 1.20 lakh. Ministers salary in MP will now onwards rise to 1.70 lakh from Rs 1.20 lakh, and that of ministers of state to 1.50 lakh from 1.03 lakh. Experts believe a whopping 600% rise in pension of former CMs is a grievous mistake committed by the Madhya Pradesh government as there is only a difference of Rs 30,000 between a sitting CM and former CM.