2nd April 2000

Not a penny more not a penny less

"I will have to work that one out" Bindu's father Percy said. "My answer is sixty-seven and a half million rupees" Bindu calculated.

"That's correct" Percy said, after working out the sum himself.

"Then, Thaaththa, how much is sixty seven and a half million rupees divided by eighteen million?"

"That must be worked out too" Percy said.

"My calculation is three rupees and seventy five cents"

"But, Bindu, why are you doing these strange sums?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why thaaththa," Bindu said, "these are the new salary increases for our MPs"

"Surely, it cannot be as much as Three hundred thousand rupees?" Percy was puzzled.

"No, thaaththa, the increase is not that much, but it has been backdated, so they are being paid arrears"

"But" Percy argued, "Satellite told us that she didn't have enough money for the war and that she couldn't afford a salary increase and a war at the same time"

"But she did consider a salary increase"

"Yes" Percy recalled, "and she said that she would appoint a commission to consider salary increases for the people"

"Then, thaaththa," Bindu wanted to know, "doesn't this commission have to authorise this increase for MPs?"

"I suppose not" Percy said, "they themselves have decided that they are good enough for a salary increase while we, the people whom they represent, have to wait until a commission decides on our salary increases"

"Maybe," Bindu suggested, "they thought that since they are representing us, they should collect our salary increases also, on our behalf"

"But do you remember how they gave us our last salary increase?" Percy asked.

"How was that?"

"Why, the Professor gave us sixty per cent of the increase first and only after six months did he give us the balance"

"And no one paid you arrears"

"But Bindu," Percy wanted to know, "what were those sums you were doing?"

"They say each MP will collect about three hundred thousand rupees in arrears, so the total cost to the country will be about sixty-seven and a half million rupees"

"But you divided that again" Percy recalled.

"That was by the number of people in the country"

"And what was that for?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, that means every one of us, including you, are donating three rupees and seventy five cents to enable our members of Parliament to get their pay increased with arrears even though our own salary increase has been referred to a still to be appointed commission"

"You know," Percy said, "I think we should all get together and make S.B. the leader of this country"

"Why do you suddenly say that, thaaththa?" Bindu was puzzled.

"He is the only man talking some sense" Percy said.

"Why do you say that?" Bindu was puzzled, "everyone else says he is talking nonsense"

"No, Bindu" Percy said, "you don't understand. Remember, he said we should close down Parliament. That will be great, wouldn't it?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well", said Percy, "never mind a salary increase for us. But then at least we can save our three rupees and seventy-five cents"

Bindu didn't know what to say to that.

The Jungle Telegraph

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