MPs have right to money, but pay on performance

A lot of criticism has bundled against our honourable Members of Parliament (MPs) following the Cabinet's nod to the three-fold salary-hike.



While several experts have contended that MPs demanding pay hike at a time of soaring inflation and spiraling prices is politically incorrect, the commoners have launched a brutal verbal assault against the netas.

"MPs not happy with salary hike. Citizens not satisfied with MPs' performance," tweeted Sujata Dev, Co-Chairperson entertainment committee ASSOCHAM.

Currently, the MPs get a basic salary of Rs 16,000 per month, constituency allowance of Rs 20,000 per month, a daily allowance of Rs 1000 each day when Parliament is in session besides office expenses allowance.

This public angst comes in contrast to the sympathy the whole country pours out when wage-earners seek a pay hike. It also comes as hypocrisy from the very people who contemplate on job offers with salary in their top three priorities.

Admittedly, the layman is bitter over the lack of performance and the corruption that scars the country and its progress.

However, it is crucial for the MPs just as any other salaried professional to enjoy some monetary benefits. This is an exceeding difficult thought for us to accept, despite our protests defying logic, due to a very simple reason - our ideal notion of a politician.

This ideal portrait of a politician go across borders and is held on to even in different political systems. In fact, this idealistic notion of a leader and how it affects our everyday lives is so impactful that there are several research papers in Psychology (see an abstract) that explores into personality traits of politician, ideological inclinations, and the expectations of the voters.

In an online forum debate on the same topic, one netizen wrote, "A politician should accept to not receive any salary (only have expenses paid) and live in a kind of reality show 24h/24 where any meeting or contact with others would be public, no secret meetings, no private life for the length of their "job" at the service of the public. If someone is uncomfortable with that, he doesn't have to apply for the job.."

This argument, no wonder, invited some counter-attacks.

At this point, we need to separate ourselves from that emotional side that sees a politician with a jhola and chappals and look at them also like the rest of us green-eyed imps.

Taking stock of the salaries paid to the white collared professionals, majority of professionals get paid anywhere between Rs 2 lakhs per annum to Rs 7 lakhs per annum based on their experience, the employer and educational qualifications. There are promises of periodic appraisals, bonuses, benefits and incentives. Besides this, while job-hopping, a candidate expects a 30 per cent pay hike as well.

According to official protocol, MPs are ranked at 21st spot two ranks higher than the 23rd rank of the secretaries. Now, when the secretaries can expect a steady pay hike, why can't we? argue the MPs.

The fact is that they have a right to seek more money and the good news is that there is a way to do this effectively with the simple tool of performance-based pay.

For instance, the pay hike could be even on actual progress of work. To tackle the evil of repeated adjournments, the MPs could be paid hikes based on their attendance.

While the demand is legitimate, the implementation can be effective.  More over, with a salary-hike the MPs may finally put an end to the shameful bribe culture.