THE NEW CLASS

Summary

“The New Class” is an unsigned editorial reproduced from The Statesman of 19 May 1969. It criticises the Lok Sabha’s decision to raise members’ daily allowance from Rs. 31 to Rs. 51 and to expand their already substantial perks. The editorial accepts that legislators should be paid reasonably, but argues that Members of Parliament, who can determine their own remuneration, have a special obligation to show restraint when lower-paid public employees are being asked to moderate their wage demands.

The editorial presents the increase as excessive in light of the MPs’ subsidised housing, free rail travel, telephone and medical care, foreign-travel privileges, and proposed rise in foreign-exchange allowance from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 9,000. It condemns the procedural handling of the decision, noting that a parliamentary committee had initially been expected to address facilities rather than pay and allowances, and concludes by asking whether MPs’ enhanced emoluments and facilities can be justified in relation to the citizens they represent and claim to serve. The reproduced pages end after this argument; no author is identified.

Key points

• The editorial reports an immediate increase in Lok Sabha members’ daily allowance from Rs. 31 to Rs. 51.
• It distinguishes MPs from other salaried groups because MPs can determine their own pay and perks.
• It argues that legislators should exercise greater restraint than low-paid government employees facing wage pressure.
• It describes the proposed increase as excessive given MPs’ subsidised housing, free travel, telephone, medical and foreign-exchange privileges.
• It criticises the Joint Committee’s majority recommendation and the Government’s acceptance of controversial recommendations.
• It invokes public accountability by asking MPs to compare their emoluments and facilities with those of the citizens they represent.