It was heartening to read that the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioner (EC) have decide to forego the income-tax benefits that is available to them on sumptuary allowance (Rs 34,000 only per month). Also, they will avail one of the 3 leave travel concessions (LTC) that they are entitled to in a year. Similar perks and benefits are doled out to Supreme Court judges, National Human Rights Commission, Cabinet Secretary, Lok Pal, etc. Hope these dignitaries too would follow the fine example set by the CEC and EC. Depending on their ranking/grades, Central government employees are given variable amount of non-taxable sumptuary allowance to offset the expenditure that they incur on entertaining visitors. Why pay the allowance when officials receive sumptuous salary and other perks (housing, car, driver, phone etc.)? Another issue is that government employees are entitled to 2 home town or 1 all-India LTC in a four-year block, for self, spouse and children. How is that certain category of officials gets 3 LTC per year? The government should ensure that it practices austerity measures instead of imposing these on lower level employees and citizens.
