CHAPTER - XII
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT-SERVICES RENDERED
Salary and Allowances
12.1
This Ministry is responsible for administration of the following Acts of
Parliament:
(a)
The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954;
(b)
The Salaries and Allowances of Officers of Parliament Act, 1953; and
(c)
The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act,
1977.
12.2
Under Section 9 of the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of
Parliament Act, 1954, a Joint committee of both Houses of Parliament consisting
of 10 members of Lok Sabha and 5 members of Rajya Sabha, nominated by the
Speaker, Lok Sabha and Chairman, Rajya Sabha respectively is constituted to make
rules on matters specified under sub-section (3) of Section 9 thereof.
Recommendations of the Joint Committee are processed in the Ministry in
consultation with the Lok/Rajya Sabha secretariats and the concerned
ministries/departments. Action is taken to bring forward legislation, wherever
necessary.
12.3.
During the period under report, a bill to amend the Salary, Allowances
and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 was passed in the Lok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha on December 22, 2003 and December
23, 2003 respectively, to provide for the following:
i)
Payment of pension to the former members @ Rs. 3000 p.m. irrespective of
period of their membership of Parliament.
ii)
Payment of family pension @ Rs. 1500/- p.m. on the death of a sitting
member of Parliament, to the spouse/dependent of the deceased MP, for a period
of five years from the date of the MP's death;
iii)
Rounding off of the period of nine months or more of membership to
complete one year for the purpose of calculation of additional pension to the
members;
iv)
Members may be allowed to travel by private airlines also for their
official journey and claim one-fourth of airfare as incidental charges
accordingly;
v)
(a) Road mileage at the prescribed rates to the Members and their spouse
residing withing a distance of 300 kms from Delhi for the road journey performed
for coming to Delhi for attending to their Parliamentary duties;
(b)
Road mileage at the prescribed rates to Members and their spouse residing in the
north-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura for the road journeys performed from their
residences in the states to the nearest airport;
vi) TA and transit
accommodation to the newly elected or nominated members of Parliament coming to
Delhi before publication of notification in the official gazette about their
election and or nomination to either House of Parliament.
vii)
To allow the spouse or companion of the MP to perform maximum eight
journeys by air to join the member, subject to adjustment of such air journeys
against the thirty-two air journeys entitled in a year to such member; and
viii) To allow ex-members of Parliament to travel alone by
air-conditioned first class in railways against the present entitlement of two
air-conditioned two-tier class for himself and his companion without payment of
any additional charges.
The
Bill received the assent of the President on 09.01.2004 as Act No. 9 of 2004.
12.4.An updated statement showing the salary,
allowances, pension and facilities etc. admissible to Members of Parliament is
at Appendix XVI.
Welfare of Members
of Parliament
12.5
In order to look after the needs of the ailing members of Parliament
admitted for treatment in hospitals, arrangements have been made with the
leading hospitals in Delhi to obtain day-to-day information by telephone
regarding health condition of the ailing members.
The officers of this Ministry pay visits to the hospitals to enquire
about the health condition of the members and to render any assistance required
by them. The Minister/Ministers of
State for Parliamentary Affairs and senior officers also make courtesy calls on
the ailing members admitted in hospitals as and when required.
12.6
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs makes available the information of
ailing Members of Parliament admitted in various hospitals in Delhi on its
website http://www.mpa.nic.in on
daily basis.
12.7
In the unfortunate event of passing away of a member of Parliament in
Delhi, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs renders all necessary assistance to
the bereaved family members in taking the mortal remains of the deceased member
for last rites to a place chosen by the family.
During the period under report, such assistance were provided in the
following occasions:
1.
Shri Bhagat Ram Manhar, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) expired on June 19,
2003 in Escorts Heart Institute after a prolonged heart ailment.
His body was transported to his hometown Raipur by a special aeroplane of
the Chhatisgarh government for last rites on the next day.
Officers of this Ministry coordinated the transportation arrangement.
2.
Shri George Eden, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Indian National Congress,
expired on July 26, 2003 in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
after multi-organ failure. Shri
Eden's body was airlifted to Kochin by
an Indian Air Force plane on the same day.
Officers of this Ministry coordinated with the breaved family members,
the work of transportation of the dead body of Shri Eden.
This Ministry made all the arrangements including the coffin box and
hearse van for transportation of the dead body from the Hospital to the Indira
Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
3.
Shri K.M. Khan, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Indian National Congress
died on 16.10.2003 in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi after
liver failure. The dead body of
Shri Khan was airlifted to Hyderabad by the Jet Airways flight on the same day.
All the arrangements including the coffin box, hearse van etc. were
arranged by this Ministry. Senior Officers of this Ministry coordinated the whole
arrangement from hospital to the IGI Airport, New Delhi.
4.
Shri Bhan Singh Bhaura, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Communist Party of
India (Marxist) expired on 3.01.2004 in All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
New Delhi after a prolonged heart ailment.
Shri Bhaura's body was transported to Malerkotla, Punjab by road on the
same day. All the arrangements,
including coffin box, hearse van (Delhi-Malerkotla) etc. were made by this
Ministry.
Transport Arrangement for Members of Parliament
12.8 The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
coordinates transportation arrangements for ferrying the Members of Parliament
from their residence to Parliament House and back during the session periods.
It also arranges DTC buses on special hire, for the Members of
Parliament/Staff on duty, during the late sittings of the House(s) to enable
them to reach their residence during odd hours in night.
Film Shows
12.9
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs arranges screening of feature films
in various languages for entertainment of Members of Parliament, in coordination
with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs rendered all necessary
coordination/assistance including security arrangements for these shows.
During the year 2003, 14 films of different languages were screened at
Mavalankar Auditorium, New Delhi.
Dinner Arrangement for Members of Parliament during late Sitting of
Parliament/ Other Occasions
12.10
This Ministry
makes arrangements for dinner/refreshment for the members of Parliament, Press and Staff on duty in Parliament House during the late
sitting(s) of House(s).
12.11
During the year
2003-04, dinner was arranged for MPs etc. on three occasions during the late
sittings of Lok Sabha. The Hon'ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs hosted
another dinner to all lady Members of Parliament on February 24, 2003.
Besides this, she hosted a dinner in honour of the Chinese delegation on
February 19, 2004, at Kamal Mahal, Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi.
Ushering in duty at Important Functions
12.12
This Ministry renders ushering service on important public functions in
which members of Parliament are invited. Such
duties are required to be performed on the Republic Day Parade, Beating Retreat
Ceremonies, ceremony of assumption of office by the President elect etc.
Officially Sponsored visit of Members of Parliament to the Places of Interest
12.13
Officially sponsored visits of members of Parliament to places of
interest/ national projects is another important activity allotted to this
Section. These visits are arranged either on the request from members of
Parliament or the ministry concerned.