Salary hike for GP officials in the offing

BANGALORE: The state government has planned to enhance the honorarium to the 90,635 members of 5,627 panchayats in the state, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Jagadish Shettar informed in the Legislative Council. Replying to BJP member Kota Srinivasa Poojary during the Question Hour, Shettar added that the government has already enhanced the honorarium to members of zilla and taluk panchayats.“Chairman of Third State Finance Commission A G Kodgi has already made recommendations in this regard. The proposal to enhance the honorarium to GP members is under the consideration of the government,” he elucidated.He said the salaries of ZP president, vice president and members has been increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000, Rs 1,750 to Rs 2,250, and Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 respectively. The corresponding salary hike for taluk panchayat members are Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250, Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 and Rs 500 to Rs 750.The minister said that GP  president, vice-president and members draw monthly salaries of Rs 500, Rs 300 and Rs 250 respectively. The proposed measure will cost the state exchequer Rs 2 crore annually.As many as 39,020 women are members of gram panchayats in the state.