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On MPs’ salary raise

28 December 2009

I was following the online news, forums and blogs on the recent pay hike of our MPs. It makes me uncomfortable to learn that not a single opinion is in favor of the raise and the majority of the Bhutanese are disappointed with the decision. Now let me clearly state my appreciation for the hard work and the dedication of the honorable MPs and I strongly believe they should be equally rewarded with a decent salary. I believe this will benefit everyone as follows: Keep the current batch of capable MPs in office, attract capable candidates in the future and make the position more competitive, keep the candidates away from temptations of fraud and bribery.

They are sworn in by oath to serve the Tsa-wa-sum. They have been voted with great trust and respect by the people. If they demand a raise, they should deserve it. But, MPs, even with their armor of immunity from prosecution, are Bhutanese citizens and are bound by the Constitution.

The fact that they took it in their own hands to give themselves a raise when the Constitution clearly states that it lies in the power of the Pay Commission is simply not in accordance with the constitution. Let’s look back and see if they have not been rewarded enough.

I am not going to waste your time in detailing all the benefits they had been offered so far. But what strikes me most is their ability to keep a straight face and ask for double raise in under a year! Do not get me wrong here. I am not jealous. I am satisfied with my free share of education, medication and everything else that I got from my government. But this gets me worrying. I know there are a lot of senior civil servants who have been working tediously under equally tremendous workloads for decades and I doubt if they got such double raises even in their entire tenure with the government! Let’s not forget that the world is going through one of the worst recessions in recorded history. Let’s not forget that Bhutan has been whipped and lashed by earthquakes, windstorms and fires. Let’s not forget that the government is depending on foreign aid and donations to bring the country back to normalcy. The state is in short of funds to build infrastructure and carry out developmental activities.

The unemployment rate in the country is ever high. And worst, the people dislocated by the Punatsangchu Project are reportedly worried that they might not get financial compensation to build new homes. What is with a lifetime supply of electricity if you do not have a home? I think we are making a serious mistake here. I call it a serious mistake because in some 50 years from now, our younger generations will take over and they will blame us. Yes, they will blame us for wasting the precious time we had in our hands to develop the county. They will blame us for being greedy and for triggering inflation overnight. And they will call us the corrupt generation. Let’s stop that. Let’s not be greedy. Let’s think again.

By Lobxang
New York
bestlobxangever@ gmail.com

They are already getting Nu 63,000 a month including allowances. In addition, they get Nu 800 per day as allowance while on tour to their constituencies on top of Nu 100,000 discretionary allowance for soelras per year. Isn’t this enough? Consider that many people in Bhutan live with less than Nu 3,000 a month. And village tshogpas still get only Nu 1,500 a month as salary. MPs should take the whole country and people into perspective and not only think of themselves alone. This makes us lose faith in democracy itself.

By Dorji on Dec 18

MPs should ask what they can do for the country, but they are asking what country could do for them.
By Phala on Dec 18

I am just upset!
By Bangchu on Dec 19

Bhutan is a poor country, much depended on donation from rich countries, but the money contributed by the poor people of the rich country is directly given to the rich people of a poor country. It makes me shiver and anguish and many citizens feel the same. Stop, otherwise people might have to pay a heavy prize?

By What a mess on Dec 19

MPs are already given a good amount and they are the ones who declared that they would work for the people so why ask for more money now? They are being so selfish.

First, they wanted patangs, then they wanted their cars to have a different number plate and now more money.

Are they serving people or fooling them? When it is an important issue, they hardly discuss it much but when it comes to issues related to themselves, they prolong it so much. People should really think twice before giving votes next time. Good that I didn’t vote.

By Kelza on Dec 20

There are many youth unemployed so why don’t our new government solve this problem. I am not saying that Nu 50,000 is high. They deserve more than this. But please think that the amount that you are going to increase can provide salaries to many people. I just want to say please employ some new people with that money.

By Dorji Bhai on Dec 20

As a civil servant, pay hike for any employee is welcome indication but I believe that it is done with the country’s economy in mind. Are they (MPs) not over ambitious and building their own super comfort when the nation is running under calamities and turmoil. It is like giving a pinchful and taking a handful. Hear, countrymen, hear the deeds of our elected leaders!

Tashila on Dec 20

If MPs are struggling with Nu 60,000 plus, then how about others? For example, if civil servants go for tour, they get Nu 500 per day. Some civil servants get only Nu 300 per day. What about them? And drivers get Nu 150 per day. With that money they don’t even get one good meal. Have MPs thought about that? When they raise their salary, it’s important for them to look back and see what they really have done till now. I am simply upset.

By TeePee on Dec 21

I think it is important for the MPs’ salary to be fixed. But my question would be why at secretary’s level? Why not dzongda’s level? Why not lesser given the fact that these people had actually volunteered to serve the people. I think 30,000 plus itself is more than what they deserve. After two years of having been elected, how many people actually spoke on the floor of the parliament? Peg this with their salary – they are already overpaid.

Wow! NC and NA members agreed for the first time to safeguard their interest. Isn’t this amazing? Another issue is that they already get so many allowances. Now, Nu 100,000 soelra. What is this? If the money they are being paid belongs to the people of Bhutan, surely these elected people should instead be exploring ways to enable the nation’s money to trickle down to the needy people instead of treating themselves. Surely this is a disgusting thing happening.

Pity that in one of the panel discussions, the MPs desperately tried saving their faces but in vain. The whole issue came in a bad, bad taste to everyone.

By Laygman on Dec 21

Even if we raise our dissatisfactions and sentiments here, there is hardly any change in the decision that the parliamentarians make. This is the clear sign of the weakness of media in the democratic process. When half of our country’s population lives below poverty line, why are they trying to increase the salary of MPs, which would ultimately broaden the income disparity between haves and havenots?

By Kezangla on Dec 21

Can citizens sue National Assembly and National Council?

What does the constitution say on that? Any acts, laws, by-laws to sue them?

What they get are the resources of the citizens of Bhutan, which are collected in the form of taxes and royalties – in whatever form – by the government.

Let’s take them to court and see.

By PD on Dec 19

It is a pure act of stealth, greed and selfishness. Bhutan did make a mistake in choosing them. Shame on us that we were rationally ignorant in electing them to power. I really wish people around the world, who have been generous in donating for the earthquake relief fund, have their eyes and ears shut from such things happening here. We have limited funds to give poor victims their normal life back but our so called Chotochen gi thuemi could still have that guts to demand.

By Karpo on Dec 20

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Comments

One Response to “On MPs’ salary raise”

  1. citizen on January 2nd, 2010 9:47 am

    shame that we are being cheated again and again. What a democracy???

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