Patna: Members and former members of the legislative assembly will soon be able to access travel allowance, daily allowance, medical reimbursement, guest house facilities, other services and official information through a single mobile application, officials said on Friday.Assembly speaker Prem Kumar on Friday directed secretary in charge Sanjay Kumar Singh to develop an app-based “single window system” for the convenience of serving and former legislators.Kumar said the proposed platform should ensure that details on facilities, services and essential information are available in one place. Through the app, MLAs and former MLAs will be able to claim or access travel allowance, daily allowance, medical reimbursement and guest house facilities, besides other benefits. They will also be able to track the updated status of requests and entitlements on the application.The Assembly Secretariat will also send necessary information to current and former members through WhatsApp and text messages, the speaker said.Kumar asked Singh to use technology to make services delivered by the Assembly Secretariat simpler, more transparent and more focused on members’ needs.Singh said action had been initiated in accordance with the speaker’s directions.An official said the move is expected to benefit all 243 sitting members of the Bihar assembly and around 800 former members.MLAs in Bihar receive total monthly compensation of about Rs1.40 lakh to Rs1.60 lakh. The core basic salary is comparatively low, but fixed allowances substantially raise the overall monthly package. The proposed digital system is aimed at streamlining access to such entitlements and also reducing dependence on multiple offices for routine administrative services.
