Chandigarh: In a major announcement, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that all the MLAs and ex-MLAs in the state will get pension for only one term, irrespective of them winning several times.
"Today we have taken another big decision. Changes will be made in the pension formula of MLAs in Punjab. Now MLAs will get only one pension. Thousands of crores of rupees spent on the pension of MLAs will now be used for the betterment of the people of Punjab," said Mr Mann in a video message while adding that several MPs are also getting pension for remaining MLAs earlier.
"Ex-MLAs in Punjab, even if they have won twice, five times or ten times, they will now get pension for one term only," he added.
An MLA gets a pension of around Rs 75,000 per month for one term. Thereafter, an additional 66 per cent of the pension amount is given for each subsequent term.
More than 250 former MLAs are are getting pension at present.
The Chief Minister said money saved from it will be spent on the welfare of people.
"Our political leaders, including MLAs, seek votes from you with folded hands by saying that give us a chance to serve you," Mr Mann said in his address.
"But you will be surprised to know that several MLAs who won thrice, four times or five times and then after losing the elections or after not getting tickets for contesting the polls, get lakhs of rupees in pension per month," he said.
"Somebody gets Rs 3.50 lakh and somebody gets Rs 4.50 lakh and somebody gets Rs 5.25 lakh as pension. It puts a financial burden of crores of rupees on the exchequer," Mann said.
A reduction will also be made in their family pensions as well, Mr Mann stated.
He said he has given necessary directions to officials in this regard.
A few days ago, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, who is 11-time legislator, had said he will not accept pension as an ex-MLA.
The nonagenarian had asked the Punjab government and the Vidhan Sabha speaker to divert his pension to some social work, "preferably to help some needy girl students in their education".
Had Mr Badal decided not to forego the pension, he would have received more than Rs 5 lakh per month as pension.