Anil Kumar/TNN
Bangalore, May 11: So what if there is a bar by the Constitution on the size of cabinet, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s magnanimity has ensured that many more get that status at least. Apart from the stipulated 34-member ministry (all of cabinet rank), Yeddyurappa has appointed additional 30 members and generously given 24 of them cabinet status. Six others have the status of minister of state. With this, there are 64 members of ministerial rank in the government.
While 34 ministers are legislators as required, the 30 political appointees who are heading various statutory bodies necessarily aren’t and the remaining vacancies are expected to be filled after the Lok Sabha election results, burning a hole in the state exchequer.
The constitutionally-appointed 34 ministers get House Rent Allowance of Rs 40,000 a month.
However, ministers who are given government quarters are not entitled to claim HRA. Including Yeddyurappa, 18 ministers have government quarters. The ministers get a salary of Rs 8,000, while the CM gets Rs 10,000 per month.
Taking Rs 8,000 as monthly salary per political appointee, the financial expenditure for the 30 translates into Rs 2.40 lakh per month and Rs 28.80 lakh yearly. Similarly, HRA of Rs 40,000 converts into Rs 12 lakh monthly and Rs 1.44 cr annually.
They also get a vehicle and an entitlement of 300 litres of petrol or an equivalent amount as vehicle allowance every month, besides four member personal staff drawn from various departments. In addition, they get TA similar to regular ministers.
While department of personnel and administrative reforms takes care of the salary and other allowances of regular ministers, the guidelines are strict that the facilities are given only by respective boards and corporations for the political appointees.
“The respective boards and corporations, for which an individual is a chairman, will pay the salary, house rent and other allowances,” sources said.
In case a legislator or political appointee is a chairperson of loss-making public sector, facilities don’t come easily. An order stipulates that administrative department that is secretary or principal secretary of the department will take a decision on the facilities to be extended to a chairperson.
(Swalpa adjust maadi: Literally “Kindly adjust” in Kanglish, this phrase in popular idiom denotes compromise or to make suitable.)