Chandigarh: The AAP government in Punjab on Saturday issued a notification regarding the 'One MLA, One Pension' scheme. The move comes soon after the governor gave his assent to a bill limiting multiple pensions for former MLAs.
The 'One MLA, One Pension' bill is aimed at giving pension to the members of the state assembly for a single term only at a new rate of Rs 60,000 per month plus dearness allowance.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the scheme will save Rs 100 crore in just five years. "It will revolutionise and reform the country's political system." He added that it is a humble initiative by the AAP government to realise the dreams of our freedom fighters and national heroes.
The Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab State Legislature Members (Pension and Medical Facilities Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2022 on June 30. Bhagwant Mann's government is expected to save around Rs 19.53 crore every year through this scheme.
AAP Member of Parliament (MP) Raghav Chadha lauded the Punjab government's move and said previous governments of the state had malafide interests and drained the treasury to fill their own pockets.
After issuing the notification, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said now there will be no more "free ke revdi" (freebies) to leaders. "When Punjab was reeling from extreme financial distress, MLAs under the previous governments were enjoying multiple pensions. Under the leadership of CM BhagwantMann this comes to an end," he tweeted.
In an official statement, the CM said the great freedom fighters of India dreamt of a classless democracy where elected representatives will work as the real servants of the people and ensure their well-being. "But in the last 75 years, these elected representatives have turned into political executives by drawing extravagant salaries and pensions from the state exchequer."
He added that taxpayers' money was used to pay these leaders. "Their money was misused to fill the pockets of these leaders instead of being used for public welfare." CM Mann noted that MLAs have entered politics willingly to serve people, so they have no moral responsibility to claim multiple pensions in exchange for this service.