Speeches in the State Legislatures : 1946-62

Mover of the Bill really wants to stick to this argument. If I point out to him the administration of the district local board of the district from which he comes, will he be prepared to concede the point that that district local board is composed of only rich people? I am sure, he would not. It is our common experience and it is also my personal knowledge that representatives of local authorities genuinely represent the poorer class, the exploited class. So, the argument and the fear that it would be the monopoly of only rich people if remuneration is not paid is not real. The other argument is that only by making remuneration compulsory, the efficiency and integrity of the elected representatives will be brought out. If this position were to be accepted, I think we would be approaching the stage of liquidating the whole of our public life. The real spirit of honorary public life will have to be accepted as a basic rule. If we have accepted the formula of remuneration to the members of this House, it was done on practical, reasonable and sound principles. This analogy to local authorities cannot and should not be applied.

We have tried to collect information on this issue from other countries as well. We find that only in rich countries like the U.S.A., Canada and Brazil salaries are paid to members of local authorities. In no country in the Continent including the U.S.S.R. is remuneration paid to members of local authorities. In no Asian countries is this payment made. So, it would not be correct to go from one extreme of honorary public service to the other extreme of remuneration to all the elected members of local authorities. We will have to find out a golden mean, a via media, and that is what exactly we are doing. If some local authorities can afford to make this payment, and if it is necessary, certainly we will consider that point. If this principle is accepted now, tomorrow the hon. Member may quite reasonably try to extend the same principle to the village panchayats as well, and then it would be very difficult to resist that demand at that stage. If the financial position of these local authorities is taken into consideration, it will be found that it is difficult for them to carry on their normal activities, let alone bear this additional burden. On this ground the Government is opposed to this Bill. I, therefore, oppose the first reading of this Bill.