Prakash Javadekar also said the Cabinet had approved an ordinance amending the salary, allowances & pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954.
MPs will take a 30 per cent salary cut for a year and forego for two years funds they get to spend on their constituencies to help India fight the coronavirus pandemic, the union cabinet decided on Monday after a virtual meeting.
“Charity begins at home—this is a landmark decision,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told journalists after the Cabinet meeting.
MPs’ salaries will be cut for this year and funds from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) for 2020-21 and 2021-22 will be transferred to the Consolidated Fund of India. The government will introduce an ordinance to cut MPs’ salaries from April 1.
The President, Vice-President and Governors of all states have also voluntarily decided to take pay cut as a social responsibility amid the coronavirus crisis, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday while adding that the money would go to the Consolidated Fund of India.
Earlier in the day, in a first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet via video link amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Besides Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah were present at the PM’s official residence. Other members of the Cabinet were connected via a video link from their offices and residences.
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Before chairing the Cabinet meet, the prime minister chaired a meeting of the council of ministers via video conference on Monday morning.
“It is going to be a long haul, we do not have to tire, our resolve and mission are to emerge victorious in fight against this pandemic,” the Prime Minister said on the party’s 40th Foundation Day.
The number of coronavirus cases today – the 13th day 21-day lockdown — crossed 4,000, with the highest 24-hour jump of 693 cases and 32 deaths. This is for the fourth consecutive day that India has registered an increase of 500-plus cases.
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