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| Mantris, MLAs fix salaries on their own leaving commoners dumbstruck, appalled | | | Mishu Gupta
JAMMU, Mar 29: Commoner has been left dumbstruck by irrational decision of cash starved Jammu and Kashmir government to hike salary of state legislators and ministers alongside increasing pension by more than 100 percent.
He has been made to think about callousness of the government with regard to demands of employees and other sections of the society. Commoners approached by Early Times are appalled over the decision and see no rationality in this government legislation which was introduced and passed on Monday.
"That act of chief minister and other council of ministers and MLAs unitedly agreeing to self-styled hike of their own salaries amply point towards dictatorial mindset. Those seek jobs and financial assurance for making a living are labeled traitors by this government while the legislators are openly looting the state and central exchequer for their convenience," said President Physiotherapists association Vimal Manhas who has fighting for the rights of Physiotherapists since November last.
Undoubtedly, the state assembly controls is the highest decision making body and our MLAs have every right to live a dignified life. But the propriety and justification to raise the salary and perks demands a suitable mechanism. There should be an independent panel with representatives from the three wings of the government i.e. the judiciary, the executive and the legislature to review the entire gamut of emoluments for MLAs.
Commoners who keep a close eye on the happenings inside the assembly term the entire exercise jugglery of figures in which both the government and the opposition are hand-in-glove. "Legislators from both left and right joined hands to get bill passed. More importantly, they sought several amendments. Apart from this, assembly proceedings have been more a story of walk in and walk outs, thus suggesting that legislation was match fixing between government and opposition," said a retired central government employee who said that the hike challenges findings of central pay commission.
The hike also comes at a time when burning issues like unemployment, discrimination with state, corruption, price hike and government attitude towards agitating employees. Ration and fertilizers are not properly reaching rural pockets. Water table has plummeted to an all-time low. Schemes like the NREGA, the PMGSY, the NRHM, the PMRY and the ADB-funded projects have been yielding least results.
However, the tech-savvy legislators seek solace by amusing public through stage-managed battles over surrender policy, self-rule, autonomy and so on. Nobody is ready to discuss problems of roads, power supply, water shortage, quality education, healthcare, sanitation, environment and ecology-related issues on the floor of Assembly, said another commoner who sought not to be named.
Jammu and Kashmir Agricultural Technocrats general secretary Rajeev Sharma hoped that since the ministers, MLAs and MLCs have got their salaries enhanced, they should now focus on the unemployed youth of the state. "It would have been great if the assembly would have unitedly stood up for our cause," said Rajeev. |
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