A Member of Parliaments Job Description…

Today’s edition of the Mumbai Mirror carried a very interesting article titled “…..exactly what is an MP’s job?” An MBA graduate working with a private sector company in Delhi filed an application under the Right to Information Act titled “What is the exact responsibility of a Member of Parliament?” The application was filed with the Election Commission and guess what? – the Election Commission did not know the answer, it sought the answer from the ministries of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs – both these ministries did not have a clue either! Now why is that not surprising?

First let me point out what a MP in India gets, then I will tell you what we get in return from those we elect for the tax payers money spent on our elected representatives.

What an MP gets:
Salary ; Rs. 12000 pm, Rs. 20000 pm for office expenses, Constituency allowance of Rs.12000 pm, Daily allowance of Rs. 1000 when Parliament is in session. This adds up to Rs. 50000 pm (assuming six days attendance of parliamentary sessions per month).

This is not all, the cost of freebies needs to be added – unlimited first class rail travel anywhere in India for MP and a companion, this could add up to another Rs. 10000 pm. Free air travel for self and companion 34 times a year, assuming an average Rs. 6000 per ticket – that adds up to Rs. 34000 per month. Rs. 2000 pm for rent, free electricity and water of approximately Rs. 25000 pm, free furnishing Rs. 6250 pm, free telephone Rs. 12500 pm, overseas traveling allowance, free overseas business class air tickets, free medical treatment which I cannot value as it will vary from person to person. For arguments sake let us take it at Rs. 20000 pm. This adds up to Rs. 109750 pm – if you add the salary and perks of Rs. 50000 pm we have an MP being paid a minimum of Rs. 159750 pm tax free – that works out to an annual cost of Rs. 19.17 lacs per MP – thus the annual cost for 544 MP’s is Rs. 104.28 crores and we do not know the job description of these elected representatives!

The government has been ranting on capping private sector salaries, as the government thinks that some of the top managers are paid humongous salaries. At least in the corporate world there are targets given, performance based appraisals carried out based on which a person may get a raise, no raise or lose his job – does that happen in government. How many of our precious MP’s have attended Parliament – last year Parliament convened for less than 50 days and Bills of importance have been passed without debate – so where is the responsibility of the elected representatives – let alone accountability?!?

From what I have read and observed over the years, of the majority of our representatives – cannot color all of them with the same brush (a handful actually work) do not work or work for their own benefit. That is why there is no written job description – how can you expect the concerned government ministries to define the jobs of elected representatives when it is a free for all. Let me tell you what their job is. Ensure that the funds allocated to them through the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) Fund are spent on the welfare of the constituency. This constituency post election invariably consists of the MP and his near and dear ones. Witness the dramatic increase in wealth from one election to the next which each sitting MP has declared to the election commission at the time of filing their nominations. Let me assure you this does not include the innumerable “benami” assets which these people hold. The job of the current crop of MP’s is to ensure that they do not attend Parliament but go out on state sponsored junkets to study other democracies at work! They ensure that their relatives and friends get plum postings in Public Sector Undertakings – believe you me the gravy train is far bigger than you can even imagine!

If you really ask me, it is a wonder this nation functions – in fact it would be accurate to state that India functions in spite of the Government! Witness the fact that at times of natural or man made disasters it is always the citizens who hit the streets first trying to solve problems. The MP’s and politicians come after the disaster has been managed by the people to announce compensation or to survey the area by helicopter – have you ever seen one person from the political class getting his hands dirty? The growth witnessed by the nation is in spite of politicians - it is the large corporate and business class which has given India its much needed growth and that too in spite of the infrastructure provided and un-supportive politico-bureaucratic climate. Just imagine what wonders would take place with the economy if we had politicians who understood their jobs and worked for the benefit of nation first and then self!