Haryana Ranks 24th in Former MLA Benefits Despite Being 4th in Current Legislator Perks

Haryana's treatment of its former legislators has come under sharp scrutiny after a comparative study revealed the state ranks a dismal 24th among 28 states in providing pension and benefits to ex-MLAs, despite holding the impressive fourth position for current legislator perks.

Former MLA Lakshman Napa, representing the Haryana Ex-MLA Association, highlighted this glaring disparity during a delegation meeting with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday. The delegation submitted a memorandum demanding urgent reforms to bring their benefits at par with other states.

According to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat's comparative study, while the state generously compensates serving MLAs, it has neglected its former legislators who continue to bear equal social responsibilities and public engagement obligations. "The irony is that economically weaker states are providing far better benefits to their former MLAs than Haryana," Napa explained, pointing to specific examples from neighboring states. 

The association welcomed some recent positive steps by the government, particularly the removal of the ₹1 lakh medical treatment cap and introduction of ₹10,000 monthly medical allowance instead of cumbersome daily bill submissions. The CM has also promised cashless treatment for indoor medical procedures.

However, several critical demands remain unaddressed. The association is seeking enhanced travel allowances matching Uttarakhand's ₹3.40 lakh annual provision, age-based pension increments similar to Uttarakhand's progressive system (ranging from 5% at 65 years to 50% at 80 years), and additional allowances for orderly services and telecommunications.

A particularly innovative demand involves providing ₹25 lakh Assembly loans for housing and vehicles, following Himachal Pradesh's model, with recovery through pension deductions. This addresses the challenge faced by ex-MLAs who cannot secure bank loans after age 60.

"Former MLAs continue to serve society with the same dedication as serving members, yet our state treats them as second-class citizens compared to other states," Napa emphasized.

At the moment, Haryana spends ₹29.51 crore a year on pensions for 275 former MLAs. Despite the fact that this is a significant investment, the association contends that the benefits package is not as comprehensive as those offered by other states. The meeting is an important opportunity for Haryana to reevaluate how it treats former lawmakers who have served the state and are still making contributions to the public good long after their terms are over.