Citing the poor financial condition of the State, the Jan Sangharsh Morcha is planning to approach the High Court seeking discontinuation of pensions for former MlAs.
Addressing the media, the Jan Sangharsh Morcha head Raghunath Singh Negi said that the financial condition of Uttarakhand is not good at present. He said, “It is a very unfortunate situation wherein the State is under a debt of more than Rs 40,000 crore with the Government taking loan to pay the interest on this. In such a situation is it sensible to pay pensions to ex MlAsij In 2008, the pension paid to each ex MlA was Rs 6,000 which was increased to Rs 10,000 in 2010, Rs 20,000 in 2014 and to Rs 40,000 in 2018.
Further, as per the age criterion the pension is provided with additional five per cent to those aged above 65 years, 10 per cent more to those above 70 years, 25 per cent more to those aged above 75 years and 50 per cent additional to those aged above 80 years.
Such is the situation that due to faulty policies and appeasement, an MlA now more into Government service than social service which is detrimental to the democratic system. This provision for life-long pension to ex-MlAs is a major burden on the public exchequer and on this issue the Jan Sangharsh Morcha plans to approach the High Court,” said Negi.
He, further, pointed out that there are thousands of workcharge/ad hoc employees who are not eligible for pension even after working for 30-35 years.
On the other hand, the State has made a seven-fold increase in pension amount for ex MlAs in the past 10 years.