President Ram Nath Kovind, flanked by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File) President Ram Nath Kovind, flanked by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File)

The Union Cabinet on Monday approved an ordinance to reduce the salaries, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament (MPs), including the Prime Minister, by 30 per cent for one year and the amount would be utilised in the fight against coronavirus.

The President, Vice-President and Governors of all states have also voluntarily decided to take pay cut as a social responsibility amid the coronavirus crisis, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday, adding that the money would go to the Consolidated Fund of India. Follow LIVE Updates

Addressing the media, Javadekar said the Union Cabinet had approved an ordinance amending the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954. The move will see reduction in the allowances and pension of MPs by 30 per cent from April 1, 2020 for a year.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to the temporary suspension of MPLAD Funds during 2020-21 and 2021-22 in view of the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in India. “The consolidated amount of MPLAD Funds for 2 years – Rs 7,900 crores – will go to Consolidated Fund of India,” Prakash Javadekar said.

Earlier in the day, in a first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet via video link amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Besides Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah were present at the PM’s official residence. Other members of the Cabinet were connected via a video link from their offices and residences.

Before chairing the Cabinet meet, the prime minister chaired a meeting of the council of ministers via video conference on Monday morning.

Here’s a quick Coronavirus guide from Express Explained to keep you updated: What can cause a COVID-19 patient to relapse after recovery? | COVID-19 lockdown has cleaned up the air, but this may not be good news. Here’s why | Can alternative medicine work against the coronavirus? | A five-minute test for COVID-19 has been readied, India may get it too | How India is building up defence during lockdown | Why only a fraction of those with coronavirus suffer acutely | How do healthcare workers protect themselves from getting infected? | What does it take to set up isolation wards?

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