Kerala Heats Up for Local Body Elections; Spotlight Turns to Salaries of Elected Representatives
As Kerala enters the peak phase of the local body election campaign, attention has shifted to an often-debated topic, the monthly honorarium received by representatives across various tiers of local self-government institutions. These amounts, though commonly referred to as “salary,” are officially categorized as honorariums.
Salaries at the Grassroot Level: Gram Panchayats
Gram panchayats form the base of the local governance structure. Kerala has 941 gram panchayats, and their monthly honorariums are as follows:
- President: ₹13,200
- Vice President: ₹10,600
- Standing Committee Chairperson: ₹8,200
- Panchayat Member: ₹7,000
Block Panchayat Salary Structure
Kerala has 152 block panchayats, where representatives receive slightly higher amounts:
- President: ₹14,600
- Vice President: ₹12,000
- Standing Committee Chairperson: ₹8,800
- Block Panchayat Member: ₹7,600
District Panchayats: Highest Salary in the Rural Tier
Officials at the district panchayat level receive one of the highest payouts among local bodies:
- President: ₹15,800
- Vice President: ₹13,200
- Standing Committee Chairperson: ₹9,400
- District Panchayat Member: ₹8,800
Municipalities: Comparable to Block Panchayats
Honorariums in urban municipalities align closely with those of block panchayats:
- Chairperson: ₹14,600
- Vice Chairperson: ₹12,000
- Standing Committee Chairperson: ₹9,400
- Councillor: ₹7,600
Corporations: Mayor Receives Same Honorarium as District Panchayat President
Although the Mayor holds a high protocol rank, the honorarium matches that of a district panchayat president:
- Mayor: ₹15,800
- Deputy Mayor: ₹13,200
- Standing Committee Chairperson: ₹9,400
- Councillor: ₹8,200
Kerala currently has six municipal corporations.
Additional Sitting Fees for All Representatives
Along with the monthly honorarium, elected representatives are eligible for sitting fees:
For Presidents, Vice Presidents, Chairpersons, Mayors, Deputy Mayors
- ₹250 per meeting
- Maximum ₹1,250 per month
For Members and Councillors
- ₹200 per meeting
These fees apply across gram panchayats, block panchayats, district panchayats, municipalities, and corporations.