CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government today introduced a bill proposing to double the monthly salary and other allowances for MLAs. The move comes as a strike by transport unions continued for the 7th day, and they rejected a government offer to provide Rs7.5 billion towards retirement benefits. The unions asked the government how it offer a bonanza to legislators at a time when it has not paid back the Rs50 billion deducted from serving transport employees.

The unions pointed out that the chief minister’s announcement was no way near to their demands.

The monthly salary and other allowances paid to MLAs will be increased from the existing Rs55,000 to Rs105,000, nearly a 100 per cent hike.

Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami had announced last year that allowances for himself, his ministers, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and the Government Chief Whip have been increased with (retrospective) effect from July 1, 2017.

The bill seeks to legalise the measure. It also hikes the MLA Constituency Development Scheme fund allocation from Rs20 million to Rs25 million.

Pension has been raised also for the expired legislative council, the upper chamber. Former members will get their pension raised from Rs12,000 to 20,000.

Palaniswami said in the state assembly that the retired transport workers will get the offered dues before Pongal festival which falls on Jan.14. It would cover all those who retired up to Nov.30, 2017.

Settlement of pending dues is one of the key demands of the striking workers.

Palaniswamy said in the Assembly that the government was willing to increase wages by 2.44 times. But the workers, who want a 2.57-time hike, stepped up their protest, staging a sit-in with family members, including children, outside divisional offices of state-owned transport corporations across the state. As many as 17 trade unions, including those affiliated to the DMK and the Left, are on an indefinite strike, having rejected the government’s hike proposal. It is supported by 29 other small unions also.

In 2017-18, the ADMK government had given Rs2.91 billion to serving employees towards dearness allowance arrears, the chief minister said.

“Therefore, with most of the demands of the transport corporation staff being accepted, the workers should immediately withdraw their strike in the interest of the people and return to work,” he appealed.