What are my financial entitlements during constituency visits?

When visiting constituencies or attending to other parliamentary business, Rajya Sabha members receive travel allowances between their residence and destination, daily allowance of ₹2,000 for periods of duty, and can claim actual expenses for alternate routes when necessary to reach destinations on the same day, subject to Chairman's permission.

Understanding constituency support: These financial provisions recognize that constituency work is a fundamental component of parliamentary service. The travel allowances ensure you can maintain regular constituent contact regardless of geographic distance or personal financial means. The daily allowance acknowledges that constituency visits involve accommodation, meals, and local transportation expenses. The extension of daily allowance to periods before and after formal events (three days for sessions, two for committees) recognizes the preparation and follow-up work required. The alternate route provision acknowledges India's complex transportation networks, where direct connections may be unavailable or impractical. Together, these provisions enable you to maintain robust constituency presence regardless of distance or connectivity challenges. They reflect the understanding that effective representation requires both presence in Parliament and regular interaction with constituents, and that financial constraints should not impede either function.

Key citations:

• Section 9.12.1 establishes basic travel entitlements: "A Member is entitled to travelling allowances for the journeys performed from his/her usual place of residence for attending a Session of the House or a meeting of a Committee or for the purpose of attending to any other business connected with his/her duties as a Member" - covering a broad range of official activities.
• Section 9.12.1(a-b) specifies compensation: "one air fare for each such journey" by air, "one fare (without diet) for the highest class in the steamer" by water, or "a road mileage at the rate of ₹16/- per Kilometer" by road - providing transportation cost coverage.
• Section 9.2 establishes the daily allowance: "₹2,000/- per day (for attending the Session and sitting of a Committee in Delhi)" - covering subsistence expenses.
• Section 9.2 includes preparation and follow-up periods: "Period of residence on duty includes 03 days preceding and 03 days succeeding in case of Session and 02 days preceding and 02 days succeeding in case of a Committee meeting besides the period of actual business" - recognizing work beyond formal meetings.
• Section 9.12.5 permits route flexibility: "A Member is entitled to travel by any other route to reach his/her destination on the same day to avoid inconvenience when connecting flights are not available by the shortest route, subject to the permission of the Chairman" - accommodating practical travel challenges.
• Section 9.12.4 establishes claim limitations: "Where a Member performs a journey...from a place, other than his/her usual place of residence...he/she may draw travelling allowance for the actual journey performed or the journey from or to his/her usual place of residence, whichever is less" - preventing excessive claims.

Tags: constituency allowances, travel entitlements, daily allowance, Section 9.12.1, Section 9.12.5, Section 9.12.4, Section 9.2, constituency visits, parliamentary business, road mileage, alternative routes, per diem allowance