Yogi Adityanath to roll out pension scheme for seers

LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath government is all set to announce a pension scheme for seers at its historic cabinet meeting at Kumbh later this month. The move stirred opposition ranks on Monday with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav taking a jibe at Hindutva icon Yogi while playing his own soft Hindutva card.

The Yogi government, at a recent high-level meeting, decided to organise special camps to enroll seers under a government pension scheme, which will include homeless and nomadic sadhus. “It was also decided at the meeting to create a special category to include elderly seers,” UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi.

The stipend under the scheme will be raised from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per month.

Sharply reacting to the government dole for seers, SP chief and former CM Akhilesh Yadav said, "the government must give a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 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,” he said.