Do you know what your MPs are being pampered with? 5 perks of being an MP!

Do you know what your MPs are being pampered with? 5 perks of being an MP!
Image Courtesy: Rediff.com

By Shilpika Srivastava

Why are our MPs so rich and the janta so poor? A question that has silently crept in the hearts and minds of millions of other citizens! Unfortunately, the reverberating hum of such silence has always been neglected by those who are actually appointed to shoot the answer.

No, we are not at all against the wealth! Everybody fancies a social establishment, which confides in capitalism and offers everyone a fair chance to build and accumulate the moolah.

So what if they have some undeclared assets cinched away in benami corporations and tabs where some distant nephew of the cook's uncle is the declared owner.

Do you know that about 82% of the MPs in Lok Sabha 2014 are millionaires? Well, nothing to be surprised though. But, it's like the Riches fighting for the Poors; and we all know what happens in the end.

In 2014's Lok Sabha elections, there were 2217 candidates (27%) who entered the battlefield of politics. What's more surprising is that almost 82% of the candidates, who were declared as the winners in the polls, were millionaires.

And, it's not just the hunger for power that these candidates do not leave any stone unturned to grab the seat, but it's also the greed for enjoying the facilities that they would be pampered with once they're declared victorious. It's like the Riches getting 'more rich'!

So, here are surprising 5 perks that you didn't know your MPs are being pampered with. (After reading this, many of you might consider joining politics as a full-time career.)

1. Your MPs get Rs. 2,000 per day for each day of residence on duty. So, how much annually? Now, you do the maths! In addition, they also receive Rs. 45,000 per month as constituency allowance. You know, how much they spend on their constituencies, right? And, their office expenses sum up to Rs. 45,000 per month.
2. Your MPs get exciting travelling allowances and travel facilities. A Member of Parliament is entitled to innumerous journeys via rail, air and road. The Constitution of India allows these facilities and allowances to be performed for attending a Parliament Session or meeting of a Parliamentary Committee or for the purpose of attending any other business connected with the duties as a member. The allowances are given from the place of usual residence to the place of duty and for return journey from such place to the place of usual residence.
To add more, every member is given the facility to avail 34 single air journeys during a year with spouse or any number of companions or relatives.
3. Your MPs also enjoy facilities such as, their sofa covers and curtains being washed every three months, furniture within the monetary ceiling of Rs. 60,000 in respect of durable furniture and Rs. 15,000 for non-durable furniture.
4. Your MPs could literally talk for free on a phone. Trust us, they won't have to spend even a single penny out of their pocket. A member is entitled to have three telephones.
Just like we buy free local or STD minutes from our mobile phone operators, a member gets free 50,000 local calls during a year at a cost of being an MP. What's more? These 50,000 free local calls can be clubbed together, which totals to 1,50,000 local calls in a year.
5. In this era, where there is so much hue and cry over electricity bills, your MPs are entitled to 50,000 units (Yes, 50,000 units) of electricity per annum for FREE!

And, those 5 points are just a tip of the iceberg. Do you think the angst and agony of a poor can be understood by a person who is showered by tons of facilities and allowances by our very own Constitution? Don't you think their 'increment' should be based on their 'performance'? We are waiting for your opinions!

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