KATHMANDU, July 13: At a time when they are under criticism from various quarters for their failure to do anything substantial, the elected officials of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) have begun efforts to have their salaries and perks increased.

A council meeting of the metropolitan city held on Wednesday endorsed a standing decision to increase their salaries. The decision, however, needs to be endorsed by the provincial government .

KMC had decided on the hike in salary and perks through an executive meeting last year . But the decision was not implemented as the provincial government had yet to come into existence.

The council meeting held on Wednesday decided to forward the proposal to the provincial government for its endorsement.

Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Hari Prabha Khadgi confirmed that the meeting has endorsed the decision and it now awaited final approval by the provincial government. “This was last year's decision and we are sending it to the provincial government after endorsing it through a council meeting,” she said.

Earlier, the provincial government had fixed Rs 46,000 as salary for the mayor and Rs 40,000 for the deputy mayor. The KMC council neeting had decided to increase these to Rs 60,000 and Rs 55,000 respectively.

Similarly, KMC has proposed Rs 40,000 a month, up from Rs 28,000, as salary for a ward Chairman and Rs 20,000, up from Rs 7,000, for a ward member.”

"Since we need to work day and night, we are trying to arrange remuneration that is sufficient to meet out daily expenses,” Khadgi further said.

KMC officials said last year the Local Development Ministry informed them that any such decision should be taken only after a provincial government was in place. As an elected provincial government was now in place, KMC decided to forward the pay and perks hike for endorsement on Wednesday.

 
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