The Union cabinet on Monday approved an ordinance to reducethe salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs) by 30 percent for one year and the amount will be utilised in the fight againstcoronavirus.
The President, Vice President, governors of states have alsovoluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility, Unionminister Prakash Javadekar said.
Briefing reporters, the minister said the cabinet approvedan ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members ofParliament Act, 1954 reducing allowances and pension by 30 pet cent from April1 2020 for one year.
The money will go to Consolidated Fund of India, he added.
The Cabinet also approved temporary suspension of MPLAD(Member of Parliament local Area Development) fundscheme during 2020-21 and2021-22, and the funds will be used for managing health services and theadverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, he said.