When Dr. Samuel Johnson defined the word ‘pension’ in his dictionary as ‘the sum paid to a state hireling for the treason done to his country’, he probably had in mind none other than the paliamentarians! For, they are the people with ample opportunities of making money during their term of office besides their salaries. To give them ‘pension’ after their term of office which may be five years or ten years at the most in the majority of cases is rather redundant and wastage of the public funds.

Nepal government has realised this and their Supreme Court has very recently abolished pension for the retired parliamentarians.

Now the news of a private members motion to be tabled in our Cabinet seeking ‘to abolish pension scheme for MPs’ (The Island 7/11) is welcome. It is fervently hoped that the motion will be carried through.

C. R.
Wattala