The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government is set to announce an old age pension scheme for seers and saints during a Cabinet meeting to be held at the Kumbh Mela this month.
BJP Spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi told News18, “Till now there were sadhus and saints who did not have any family or anyone to look after them. So the government is considering to enrol them into old age pension scheme. The amount will be transferred directly into their bank accounts. Soon there will be camps in different districts all over the state to enrol the elderly seers and saints for the old age pension scheme.”
The stipend under the scheme will be raised from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per month, reported The Times of India.
Samajwadi Party Chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the government’s proposal and said, “The government must give a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 to to seers, and re-introduce the Samajwadi pension scheme and honorarium of Rs 50,000 to those awarded the Yash Bharti under the SP regime.”
“The government should also announce pension for those who recite Ramayan in villages and artistes who portray the role of Lord Ram, Bharat and Sita. And if they still have funds, a portion could be given to those who portray Ravana too.”Akhilesh Yadav, Former UP Chief Minister
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