Port Blair, Aug 26: Mr. AjoyBairagi, State President, BJP, A&N Islands has requested Govt. of India and A&N Administration for enhancement of Monthly Honorarium to all the Elected Members of the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
In a letter to Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and officials of A&N Administration, Mr. Bairagi mentioned that the present rate of Honorarium for PRIs was fixed long back and since then several pay commissions have been made the recommendation for enhancement of salary to all class of Government Servants to many folds but the PRIs were not covered and they are paid very low.
He stated that even the emoluments paid to all the MPs and MLAs were increased several times but for these PRIs who are working day and night at the grass root level for the welfare of the people living in remote areas.
He mentioned that in A&N Islands the PRIs work in extremely tough conditions as these islands are scattered and the population is settled in difficult and diverse geographical remote areas. All these Elected PRIs have to toil day and night to fulfill the demands of the people in their respective constituencies and the present Honorarium that is being given is too little and not at all justified and not commensurate with the kind of work and expenses they have to incur on daily basis.
Therefore, Mr. Bairagi recommended the amount for the PRIs i.e., for Zilla Parishad Members: Rs. 30,000/- per month; Panchayat Samity Members: Rs. 20,000/- per month; Panchayat Pradhan: Rs. 25,000/- per month and Panchayat Ward Members: Rs. 12,000/- per month.
Further, he requested that the recommended amount of Honorarium may be extended to all the Elected Representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIS) immediately to keep their morale high to work with more dedication.