While the 2019 session lasted for 20 days, the current session lasted for 18 days, and since taking oath on March 15, 2022, the Assembly has functioned only for 39 days. During the current session, 19 bills were passed and the last of them was the Goa Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of the Legislative Assembly (Amendment) Act, 2023. Except for two Congress MLAs, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, who walked out opposing the hike in salaries and perks to the MLAs, the bill received overwhelming support in the House.
While the legislators are entitled to seek better prospects for themselves, the larger question is that are they discharging their duties as against the compensation paid from the public exchequer for their services to the State. As per the new package, on the days when the Assembly session is in progress, MLAs will be entitled for an allowance of Rs 4,000 per day, while the car loan limit has been increased to Rs 40 lakh, and the loan limit for purchasing a house has been increased to Rs 45 lakh. Also, MLAs’ pension has been hiked from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 per month while the annual hike has been enhanced from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 with a ceiling of Rs two lakh per month. Allowance for fuel has been increased to 500 litres. In addition, the MLAs are now entitled to have seven staff members, instead of the earlier five. All of this will lead to an additional burden of Rs 19.46 crore annually on the State exchequer.
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Now compare that to the long pending demands of industrial labour for a hike in their minimum wages which is yet to be fulfilled. The current minimum wage for unskilled labour is Rs 307 and Rs 465 for highly skilled labour. That implies that unskilled labour earns a salary of Rs 10,192 and highly skilled labour earns a salary of Rs 14,300. On the other hand, some of the women working in pre-primary schools in the State take home lesser pay than the industrial labour. Even the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) that has been publicised to have provided nearly 10,000 jobs, provides almost similar if not lesser pay to those engaged in various sectors despite their education achievements.
Goa has been witnessing ever-growing unemployment numbers in the State with 15.91% for the month of March for the financial year ending 2022-23. However, the government has consistently refused to acknowledge these figures citing discrepancies in the methodology of data gathering.
The most fundamental expectation that Goans have from their representatives is that they ensure that governance and administration of the State are smooth and the basic facilities are available in the most modest manner possible. However, by every parameter the legislators have failed to ensure accountability from the government. From the pathetic road conditions to the environmental degradation, the MLAs have failed in ensuring that the tiny State is safeguarded and its citizens secure. There is no control over the spiking trajectory of crime and criminals in the State, corruption has seeped to the depths of governance, and despite the exposés, the government is in slumber to the extent that reports from Central government agencies mean nothing and are being disregarded at the drop of the hat.
Goans are hardworking and accomplish their dreams of respectable sustenance despite the numerous challenges faced every day. If only the legislators had worked hard enough to ensure that the citizens enjoy the ease of livelihood by providing the basic necessities and amenities, the citizens would not question the morality of a handsome hike to the MLAs. While the average Goan still struggles for a better prospect, legislators will have to prove that the hike in their allowances is justified.
