Dikhyaa Mohanty MLAs from a variety of political parties urged Speaker Surama Padhy to encourage the Odisha government to introduce a bill that would raise the pay and pension of both current and previous MLAs in a rare display of unity. Senior Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati raised the matter during Zero Hour, and Ashwini Patra of the BJD, Sanatan Bijuli of the BJP, and other members enthusiastically supported it.
The parliamentarians expressed their concerns about the challenges posed by the current compensation structure, especially in light of the public’s expectations and the growing costs of necessities. They also brought attention to the predicament faced by a few former MLAs who are unable to pay for medical care, as the government’s current healthcare reimbursement program only provides Rs 2,000 per month. A committee had already proposed raising MLA wages and pensions, but the BJD government had not yet filed a bill addressing the issue.
Speaker Padhy gave the House her word that she would ask the state administration to intervene if needed. The lawmakers used the high rates of inflation, particularly the growing price of gasoline and diesel, to support their demand, claiming that this had made their financial difficulties worse. Additionally, they demanded that the travel allowance be raised in order to properly reflect the rising cost of gasoline.
