After MPs and MLAs, municipal councillors have also demanded a hike in their existing grant.
Former mayor Mahadev Deole has tabled a proposal to hike corporators’ honorarium by 150%.
The demand has been presented before chief minister Ashok Chavan.
Incidentally, the demand for hike in MLA’s honorarium is still pending with the state government.
“The councillors perform a very crucial role. They make the city a better place for the citizens. They deserve this hike,” Deole said.
The former mayor has also asked for an increase in the allowance for attending the general body meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Currently, the corporators receive an honorarium of Rs10,000 per month, and the allowance for attending the general house meeting is Rs150. After the hike, a councillor will earn Rs25,000 and his allowance will be Rs500.
Besides the honorarium, the long abstinence from the pension scheme has also been raised. The corporators are also asking for Rs10,000 as pension.
“MPs’ salary was increased from Rs16,000 to Rs50,000 along with introduction of other benefits and allowances. Similarly, MLAs have demanded a salary of Rs44,000. Then why should the corporators be deprived of additional benefits?” questioned Deole.
However, Congress corporator Sameer Desai expressed displeasure at the proposed hike plan. “I believe the corporators are working for the benefits of the citizens. Demanding a higher honorarium will defeat the sole purpose behind our work,” Desai said.
“The BMC is already facing a financial crunch. Putting forward such a proposal will further burden the civic body. The corporators should instead just accept the honorarium the way it is and not transform it into a salary,” added Desai.
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