Goa to broaden pension rules for elected representatives

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

Even as Goa awaits a new tax structure, likely to be proposed during the state's annual budget's presentation on March 25, the government has already decide to restructure the pension scheme for the MLAs, further burdening the exchequer.

Discontinuing the old system of bringing under pension cover only those MLAs who have completed a full term of five years, the cabinet on Wednesday, March 12, finalised yet another amendment to the Goa Salary, Allowances and Pension Act 1965.

The 15th amendment in the last 32 years would also give pension to those MLAs who have sat in the House for only two years. All these MLAs would be paid Rs 500 per month.

MLAs serving the House between two and five years would be paid Rs 750 per month. And those who have served for over five years would be paid Rs 1,500 per month, with an annual increment of Rs 100, in retrospective effect from 1988.

The Act was amended last in July 1995, when the House had introduced constituency allowance to Rs 1,500 per month to every member, including the ministers, while other allowances were also hiked drastically.

Ironically, all the 40 MLAs still pay the token Re 1 per day for government accommodation during Assembly sessions or sittings of House committees.

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