Before the Karnataka Legislature’s winter session begins at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha next week, RTI activist and Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti President Bhimappa Gadad has demanded that the government stop giving free meals, tea and coffee to MLAs.
Gadad wrote to the Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the Chief Secretary, saying that:
MLAs already get ₹2,500 per day as session allowance
This amount is meant to cover their food and snacks
Giving free meals in addition is a waste of public money
He said that if the government continues to offer free meals, he will take legal action to recover the cost from the Speaker and officials responsible.
At a press meet in Belagavi, Gadad said that:
Food and refreshment expenses for a 10-day session can reach ₹3 crore
MLAs should use the allowance they receive instead of eating for free
“You cannot take both allowance and free food,” he stated
He also demanded that:
MLAs who remain absent during full-day sittings should not receive salary, allowance or facilities
A daily penalty should be imposed on absent members
Instead of giving free refreshments to increase attendance, rules should be made stricter
“If the government keeps giving free meals just to make MLAs attend, the Legislature will look like a mid-day meal school,” he said, adding that it affects the dignity of the House.
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