Goodies FROM MR
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his 10th Budget presented in yesterday outlined a host of concessions covering public servants, paddy cultivators, dairy farmers, senior citizens and fishermen in addition to the measures aimed at boosting infrastructure projects.
He announced a special salary structure for the public servants with all the allowances currently paid to be added to their basic salary.
The President said the minimum salary of public servants would be increased to Rs.15,000 while the cost of living allowance would be increased by Rs.2,200 with effect from January next year.
"Accordingly, the minimum monthly income of a public servant will now be Rs.25,000 inclusive of all the allowances," he said adding that allowances paid to university teachers, doctors and judicial officers would be increased appropriately. The President proposed that the minimum wage of private sector employees should be increased to Rs.10,000.
In his speech that lasted three hours, the President announced a guaranteed price of Rs.40 for a kilo of paddy and Rs.60 for a litre of milk while the price of locally manufactured milk powder would be reduced by Rs.100 a kilo to boost the dairy industry.
The President proposed similar guaranteed prices for other food crops such as potatoes, dried chili and onion but he did not specify the amount. A 50-kilo bag of fertiliser will be sold at Rs.350 for paddy cultivation and at Rs.1,250 for other crops.
The monthly allowance of Rs.1,000 for senior citizens will be increased to Rs.2,000 from next January while clubs for the elderly will be set up at Grama Niladhari Divisions with facilities to engage in leisure time activities and for medical clinics.
With the intention of developing the education sector, the President announced that 50,000 assistant teachers would be recruited next year on a school-based system to teach English, mathematics, science, information technology, aesthetic studies and sports. Those who complete their graduate studies in the next five years would be absorbed into the teacher service at a monthly allowance of Rs.9, 500.
In the higher education sector, the Mahapola bursary would be increased to Rs.4,000 a month and would be given even to children of public servants from next year onwards.
The President announced that motorbikes would be provided at concessionary rates for police constables, school teachers and postmen.
The 2015 Budget also proposes to introduce a pension scheme for workers in the apparel industry while Rs.2,500 will be paid to pre-school teachers as a monthly allowance. A new salary structure will be introduced next year for retired public servants and all pension payments will be adjusted accordingly.
The President said until such time the salary scales are adjusted a monthly allowance of Rs.2,500 would be paid to all retired public servants with the difference to paid later in the form of arrears.
The President proposed to introduce a new service minute for the police service while a non-resident living allowance would be paid to police officers on duty at stations outside his district of residence and this allowance to be paid only if residential facilities were unavailable at his or her police station.
Government legislators looked upbeat when these proposals were announced and they kept thumping their desks at intervals. The President was also heard responding in lighter vein to remarks made by members of the United National Party (UNP).
PIX BY SAMANTHA PRERRA