Belagavi session: Fewer perks for legislators

The Legislature Secretariat has issued a series of circulars withdrawing certain facilities provided to legislators, as part of austerity measures for the winter session of the State Legislature beginning in Belagavi on December 9.

According to the circulars, the government will not bear the accommodation and transportation expenses of personal assistants and security personnel of the legislators. The MLAs and MLCs will have to bear the expenses of their staff while in Belagavi.

A simple working lunch will be provided to the legislators at the Suvarna Soudha during the session which is scheduled. They will have to pay for dinner from their own pockets.

While the secretariat will make arrangements for the accommodation of the legislators in hotels in Belagavi and Hubballi-Dharwad, they will not be provided with official transport. Instead they will be issued a travelling allowance of Rs 2,500 per day, one of the circulars states.