By IANS
New Delhi : The government Thursday decided to nearly double the salaries for the president, the vice-president and the governors.
The decision, taken by the cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, “relates to salaries and pension of the president, the vice-president, and governors and their spouses”, said Information and Broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.
“The president will draw a salary of Rs.100,000 per month, the vice-president Rs.80,000 per month and the governors Rs.75,000 per month, since the cabinet ministers draw a salary of Rs.65,000 per month,” the minister said.
Earlier, the president’s salary was Rs.50,000, that of the vice-president Rs.40,000 and the governors were drawing a monthly salary of Rs.36,000, now hiked to Rs 75,000.
The pension for the former presidents and vice-presidents was also enhanced, but Dasmunsi did not provide those details.
“The government had decided in principle to effect this increase in salaries and pensions of the existing and former presidents and vice-presidents way back in last year around the time the presidential and vice-presidential elections were taking place. But the cabinet decision has to be signed by the president and it would have embarrassed an outgoing president. That is why we decided to postpone the decision for the time being,” said the government spokesman.