Coronavirus: PM Modi, MPs, Ministers, President to Take 30% Salary Cut for 1 Year

New Delhi, April 6, 2020:

As the number of coronavirus or COVID-19 cases continue to see a spike across the nation, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that for 1 year, the PM, MPs, Ministers, as well as President, Vice-President, and Governors will take 30% lesser salary. This amount, the Union Minister said, will be used to combat the novel coronavirus on a national scale.

"MPs, Ministers and others felt that we should follow and keeping this in mind, an ordinance was passed as per which 30% of the MP salaries will be lesser for a year. They are taking a cut of 30%, and it has been passed into law", Javadekar said, adding that the new law will be adopted immediately.

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The President, Vice-President, and Governors have also acquiesced that they will take 30% less salaries, Javadekar said, adding that they are doing this of their own volition. Now, this money will go into a general pool, that is, the Consolidated Fund of India.

Javadekar also said that many MPs had pledged sums of Rs 1 cr from their MP funds. Now, Javadekar said that the government also decided to suspend Members of Parliament's Local Area Development Scheme for the next two years. Over the next two years, an estimated ₹7,900 crore from the MPLADS schemes will be diverted to the Consolidated Fund of India. The years when the funds will be diverted will be 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Jadadekar said that all these resources will be pooled to step up the fight against the novel coronavirus, that has infected over a million people across the world.

The Union Minister said that these decisions were taken after a meeting under the chairmanship of the MP, Modi. A meeting of the Council of Ministers also took place wherein these issues were discussed.

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Javadekar, lauding the lighting of candles and diyas at 9 pm last night, said that the Ministers and MPs also informed about the developments in the areas under their jurisdiction.

"We are monitoring world situation practically every minute therefore decisions are taken in the nation's and people's interest. We have to win this war and we have to ensure that the COVID goes", Javadekar further added, while responding to a query.

Coronavirus Update:

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