<B>By Deepa BHOOKHUN</B>

Logic tells me - even though I am told that my logic is often warped - that people, who earn less, should be compensated more. Apparently that?s exactly what happened in terms of proportion. But this is just mathematical banter; how does this make this guy who earns Rs 5,000 a month and who will get a pay rise of Rs 300, feel better when he knows his friend who earns Rs 25,000 will get Rs 400? Admittedly Rs 100 is not going to make much difference in the life of Mr 5,000 but he definitely needs it more than Mr 25,000.

Now the person who earns Rs 40,000 a month doesn?t need a wage compensation of Rs 400; it will not make any difference at all in that person?s life. This money should have gone to the poor guy who earns Rs 8,000 and who starts each month wondering how on earth he will make ends meet at the end of the month.

Of course, it?s easy for me to sit in front of my PC and write this. For all we know, the Rs 40,000 guy might get so angry if he doesn?t get his Rs 400 that he may decide to leave his BMW at home and take the bus to work. Just to make sure that people know how cross he is, you see.

This is not as outrageous as it sounds, as you well know; this is what Lord Mayor Reza Issac did when he found out that Government was limiting the petrol allowances of mayors to Rs 10,000 a month. It used to be unlimited.

I cannot for the life of me understand why Reza Issac cannot supplement his petrol allowance with some of the other allowances drawn from dwindling public money that he earns as an MP. He could, also, in case he gets tired of public transport, suggest that Government buys more economic Japanese cars for mayors in the future.

Again this brings us back to politicians; I thought the reason why they got into politics was to serve the country. Instead what they do is add even more strain on public funds. And then they tell you the country doesn?t have money. Well if the country is poor, then do something about it. Bring on the reforms and, for heaven?s sake, stick to them but do it fast because people are getting fed up with not being able to afford bare necessities. People understand what sacrifice means but only if it applies to everyone and if it bears fruits.

And, in those times where wants cannot be satisfied because everything is exceedingly expensive, the last thing we need is to see a capricious Lord Mayor take the bus because he thinks Rs 10,000 is not enough.

By the way, in some evolved countries where politicians are not into politics to save up on their personal expenses, ministers take the train to go to work. But, aren?t we lucky that our country can afford BMWs ?