Conference resolves to set up panel to determine MPs' salaries

The two-day 17th All India Whips Conference resolved to set up an independent emoluments commission to determine salary allowances of Members of Parliament.
The conference, which concluded here today, also resolved that states should consider having uniformity in salaries for legislators (MLAs) across India with varying allowances depending on the situation of each state.
The conference accepted that inter-party fora in the Parliament and state legislatures have become necessary to tackle contentious and vexed issues, said Union Minister of State for Parliament and Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was chief guest at the concluding ceremony.
Talking to reporters, Naqvi said that the conference has resolved that, the central government with respect to the Parliament, as well as state governments with respect to state legislatures, should take the lead to establish inter-party fora which would work informally and lead to better performance of houses.

Naqvi said that 14 states have responded positively to last year's recommendations, while the remaining states would be asked to expedite their reports.
The next conference would be called to deliberate upon the status of the nine recommendations made last year, along with recommendations made this year, he said.
He said that the conference also accepted that MPLADS and analogous schemes in states needed a relook and overhaul to make them more effective to cater to needs of local populations and filling up gaps in infrastructure.