Bengal MLA's Rs. 65,000 glasses bill stuns CM Mamata; New limits imposed on medical expenses

During the ongoing budget session of the West Bengal Assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was taken aback when a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Murshidabad presented a bill of 65,000 rupees for a new pair of glasses. The bill was submitted to the Speaker’s desk, and upon seeing the amount, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was present in Speaker Biman Banerjee's office at the time, inquired about the total sum. Her reaction led to a prompt discussion between the Chief Minister and the Speaker regarding the matter.

In response to this incident, the Assembly decided to impose new restrictions on medical reimbursements for legislators. From now on, the maximum amount that any MLA can claim for new glasses will be limited to 5,000 rupees. Additionally, in case of hospitalization, the daily reimbursement for bed expenses will be capped at 8,000 rupees. The Assembly Secretariat has begun implementing these new guidelines aimed at controlling the growing financial burden posed by such medical reimbursements.

This move follows a history of contentious medical expense claims within the Assembly. Last year, Kanchan Malik, a TMC MLA and actor from Uttarpara, submitted a medical bill of six lakh rupees for childbirth-related expenses, which stirred a political controversy. Similarly, during Mamata Banerjee’s first term as Chief Minister, former Minister Savitri Mitra was involved in a similar issue when she presented a medical bill of around one lakh rupees, of which 70,000 rupees was claimed for glasses. Both these bills were later withdrawn after facing public opposition.