Ministers’ allowance increased without debate, opposition
30 January 2009
The Prime Minister and ministers are not getting a salary raise but there has been a raise in their discretionary allowance.
“The proposal to increase discretionary allowance was approved with no debate at all,” said the Opposition Leader.
According to the pay commission report on the pay hike, the only additional benefit given to the Prime Minister is the discretionary allowance, which has been increased to Nu 300,000 per year.
The present pay scale of the cabinet ministers is Nu 78,000-1,560-85,800. Their annual discretionary allowance has been revised to Nu 200,000 per year from the existing Nu 100,000.
This grant is applicable to the Chief Justice, Chairperson of the National Council, Opposition Leader, and the Speaker of the National Assembly. The members of Parliament are entitled to an annual discretionary allowance of Nu 100,000 per year.
The National Council has called the pay hike unconstitutional. But the Opposition Leader disagreed.
“While the pay revision proposal was changed beyond recognition by the cabinet, the cabinet claimed it was based on the Pay Commission’s report, and therefore, I consider it constitutional,” he added.
The pay revision report does not define what discretionary allowance is. It is stated that “discretionary grant cannot be spent for personal benefits”.
“It’s a grant which the receivers can use at their discretion but not for their own benefits,” said Finance Secretary Lam Dorji.
“It’s a fund provided to ministers,” said the Cabinet Secretary Sherub Tenzin. He said that it was accountable and includes miscellaneous expenditures.
A total amount of Nu 9.1 million will be spent yearly on Discretionary Grant.
BY PHUNTSHO WANGMO
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Paw………..
Wai, what actually is happening with the coming of political party system. I really could not understand the way they are running the country. On the other hand they are saying that our country do not have adequate resources to fund the rural development, keep aside paying the civil servants adequately. But on the other side those at the higher level are paid excessively high. If our country has no adequate resources, from where do these allowances for high officials come from? They are granted even without the knowledge of the public, keep aside proper debate. Lets be frank and ask ourselves, do we really need to pay these allowances at all? If at all they are justified, then the sweepers also needs to be paid sweeping allowance. It is high time that politicians stop playing games and it is high time to stop these allowance system. It is the root cause of discontentment and disgruntle among ourselves.
Watch out!! Wake up!! The Pay Commission is making everybody a fool and everybody knows that tthis is unfair at all costs that did not match the vision of equity and justice which we feel is right down the drain!
Whatever the cabinet tries to pacify or justify the citizens, that discretionary allowances are never debated and brought into public forum, the fact where every lay men can understand and see it practically. “No hikes for Ministers” was very witty slogan but today in our small socity of full of gossip, every one started talking and asking – was that pay hike deliberately for higher officials with higehr benefits in other forms or just an eye wash to the community.
Even if there is 100% hike by the end of term of Govt, we still feel that we are not treated with equity and justice and when scarcity allowances are paid to healt personnels why not to teachers as well!!
I hope we would find and compete very revised, far sighted new GOVT in years to come, be it DPT, PDP or new party soon. We fully congratulate Oppositon voice of Tobgay Sir, who is the only person who raises concerns of all citizens, wish there were more Oppostion in the Lower House!!
ohhhhhhh…… now dats de deal. One way or other pm, minister n mp all r tryin to fool round the public. I guess there is no need for allowances to them as they r highly paid ie more than wat they actually deserve. If they r paid wid allowance dan y not to others like doctors, engineers , teachers , sweepers and many more.To be frank doctors, engineers n lawyers deserve the allowance as they r very intelligent … i mean the countrys topper in education field. As of politics even sweeper can become poitician.
Pay commission, PM and the MPs has played very carefully to eyewash the public. The pay revision has benefitted only the MPs and higher officials and there is no benefit to the lower categories. The next government should do away with this allowance system. This brings lots of disparity and is not transparent. The government should have paid one fixed amount and not all these allowances.
We wish there are more opposition members who could strongly support the views of OL Hon’ble Lyonpo Tshering as we find he is the only one who stands to support the lower categories of people and very firm with his reasonings. It is unfortunate that his single voice makes no difference most of the time in front of the large egoist MPs and cabinet ministers.
God save us and save we the lowest categories of people in civil service.
Having been done n saying OK is good for all But Having not been done n saying OK is good for none.