RJD leader demands salary hike for panchayat officials

Senior RJD leader and former union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Monday demanded the Bihar government to increase the salary, allowances of elected representatives of the three-tier panchayati raj bodies on the lines of the hike given to the legislators.

On November 20 last, the Bihar cabinet had approved the hike in the salary, allowances and perks of legislators and ministers.

The quantum of hike is yet to be officially revealed but, media reports put the hike at around 30 per cent. "Bihar government has taken a decision to increase the salary and allowances of legislators due to increasing price rise but it has deliberately ignored elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions," Singh told reporters here at party office.

Singh, the RJD's national vice president, said that there are around 1.75 lakh elected representatives- like village head (Mukhiya), Sarpanch, Panchayat Samiti member, District Board member etc.- whom the state government did not extend the same benefit.

Singh appealed the legislators, including his own party legislators, to raise the issue inside and outside the house to put pressure on the state government over the issue.

Singh said that he was not against the hike in salary and allowances of the legislators but, what all he was saying is that such increase be extended to the elected representatives of panchayati raj also.

He also demanded from the state government that salary/stipend be increased for Anganwadi Sevika, ASHA workers, homeguards, Vikasmitras, Tola Sewaks etc.

(With inputs from agencies.)