UP: Slashing pension an insult to achievers, say Yash Bharti awardees

Yash Bharti awardees have criticised the state government for slashing the lifetime pension for them and Padma awardees by 50% after its reintroduction, which was announced on Saturday.

They have described the move as an insult to achievers in the state.

The government has added several riders for the beneficiaries to comply with before availing the pension.

A Yash Bharti award recipient, who refused to be named, said a state where achievers were treated with disdain could not flourish.

The awardees would now get Rs 25,000 instead of Rs 50,000 pension, introduced by the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in 2015.

The awardees would get the pension only if they are not drawing any other government pension and do not pay income tax. Moreover, the person has to be a resident of UP.

Former Olympian Shakeel Ahmed, a Yash Bharti awardee, said, “ Now , you need to be bankrupt for receiving the honorarium. The government has failed to decide whether they are paying a poverty allowance or pension to a few achievers.”

“They have humiliated achievers in the state. Today, they have turned Yash Bharti into a tool to settle political scores. I have participated in the Olympics, been a medalist in the Asian Games twice. I have played 12 years for my country. If they pay pension as mark of respect to my services to the nation, they are not doing any personal favour to me. I am not going to beg in front of these officials or anyone for getting this money. I feel humiliated that the amount has been slashed by half. This shows that these politicians and officials want to see us on our knees.”

He also said, “I would prefer to return the award which brings humiliation rather than recognition. I have always played for the pride of the country, but they are hurting my pride which amounts to hurting the country’s pride.”

Noted poet Dr Vishnu Saxena, another Yash Bharti winner, said, “When I met the chief minister with Gopal Das Neeraj ji last month, we were assured pension will resume in five days but it seems they announced the pension under pressure because of the death of Gopal Das Neeraj ji. By putting riders and slashing the pension to half, they have disgraced the talent of the state. If they can do this to achievers of the state, I can well imagine what they can do to others. Perhaps this is why those who get recognition leave the state and never come back. ”

He said, “I will meet the chief minister to put my point forward. I don’t have any hesitation in saying that some officials must have misguided the chief minister on the issue. If the government considers us to be beggars, then it is mistaken. The world of literature will never pardon them for such humiliation meted out to us. It’s sad to see achievers of the state treated like slaves.”

Another noted poet and Yash Bharti awardee Sarvesh Asthana said, “I will meet the chief minister with the delegation of award winners, I will speak my mind there.”

Poet Khusbeer Singh Shaad, speaking over the phone from Australia, said, “I respect the state government’s decision but one should be very fair in treating the achievers as they inspire a whole generation. They are role models for others.”

For now on, the awardees would have to furnish the required information each year on a prescribed format, which would be cross-checked and verified by a five-member committee set up for the purpose before disbursal of pension.

Of the total 269 Yash Bharti awardees, including film stars, cricketers, singers etc, around 172, who had requested for the pension, got the amount till February 2017. The Yogi Adityanath government, however, stopped the pension in June 2017 and ordered a review of the rules.

NEERAJ’S YOUNGER SON UNHAPPY WITH GOVT MOVE

Shashank Prabhakar, younger son of the late Gopal Das Neeraj, too expressed unhappiness with the state government over the reduction of Yash Bharti pension by 50%.

He said, “The release of pension is not an honour for Gopal Das Neeraj ji. In fact, the state government is trying to save its face by announcing the pension. But by slashing the amount to half, they have disgraced the name of Neeraj ji. I am hurt over the insult to literary persons and achievers. The riders put by department are just a sham, they want the achievers to be beggars to get just Rs 25,000 . Any person with self-respect will feel hurt.”

In contrast, Milan Prabhat Gunjan, the eldest son of the late poet Gopal Das Neeraj, on Sunday had said the UP government’s decision to reintroduce the lifetime pension for Yash Bharti and Padma awardees was the best tribute to the late poet.

Gunjan had also said, “My father had visited Lucknow and met the chief minister Yogi Adityanath in the last week of June. He had raised the issue of pension for Yash Bharti awardees and the CM had given a positive assurance. The chief minister kept his word, although with riders, but it feels good that he honoured his word given to Neerajji.” Neeraj passed away at AIIMS in New Delhi on July 19.