Madhya Pradesh: MLAs were paid Rs 149 crore in salaries and allowances

While electioneering is underway in Madhya Pradesh, reply to an RTI query has revealed that Rs 149 crore were paid from state treasuries in salaries and allowances to 231 outgoing legislators in last five years. The allowances were over three times the salary bill, the data shows.

According to the data furnished under the Right to Information by the Assembly secretariat, the salary bill of MLAs between April 2013 to September 2018 was Rs 32.03 crore, while they were paid Rs 117-crore in various allowances in the same period.

Travel allowances paid to the MLAs alone accounted for Rs 34.03 crore. RTI activist Chandrashekhar Gaud had sought this information.

According to the economic survey for FY 2017-18, per capita income of the state was Rs 79,907 while the average income of legislators was Rs 14.48 lakh in the same financial year. Elections for the 230-member Assembly will be held on November 28. One member of the house is nominated.