CM Patnaik announces salary hike for civic officials

BHUBANESWAR, Odisha: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced that the state government will hike the remuneration and allowance of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) officials, including Mayors and Deputy Mayors. The decision will benefit about 1,696 councillors and NACs and 244 corporators in municipal corporations in Odisha.

Once the decision comes into force, the remuneration of Mayors will go up from ₹8,000 to ₹50,000, and Deputy Mayors will get ₹5,000 per month instead of ₹20,000 per month. Chairperson and vice chairperson, who were drawing a salary of ₹1,500 and ₹1,200, will get ₹15,000 and ₹10,000 per month, respectively.

The Chairman of the Notified Area Council (NAC)’s remuneration has been increased from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000, while the Deputy Chairmen’s remuneration will increase from ₹800 to ₹7,500.

Municipal Corporators and Councillors will also benefit from this decision. Municipal Corporators were getting ₹700 per meeting, but now they will get ₹2,000. The municipality and NACs Councillors’ remuneration will increase from ₹150 to ₹500.  Members of the standing committee of the metropolitan corporation will get a daily allowance of ₹200 during the meeting.

The remuneration has been increased following the recommendations of the 5th State Finance Commission and amendments in Odisha Municipal Corporation Rules, 2004, and Odisha Municipality Rules, 1953, read the CMO press release.

Chief Minister Patnaik also announced the ex-gratia assistance for the elected members of the urban local bodies.  In cases of death, they will be given ₹2 lakh, while in cases of total or partial disability, they will get ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh, respectively. The burden of the increased remuneration, amounting to ₹4.76 crore, will be borne by the state government.