New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Friday announced to make changes to the pension scheme given to MLAs in the state.
From now on, all Punjab MLAs and ex MLAs will be entitled for pension for a single term. Earlier, the number of times an MLA (MLA) was elected to power, the amount was added to his pension. The pension give to their family memebers has also been slashed.
The "one MLA one pension" demand was made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha last year, when it was in Opposition.
Thursday, CM Bhagwant Mann met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought economic help from the Centre for Punjab. Mann urged special financial package worth ₹ one lakh crore from the central government to revive the state's depleting economy.
Mann called on Modi in his office at Parliament House and briefed him about the poor fiscal health of the state. He also appraised the Prime Minister of the whopping burden of Rs 3 lakh crore left behind by the Congress government, reported news agency PTI.
After the meeting, the Punjab government released an official statement that said it had sought Rs 50,000 crore each for two years from the Centre to help bring the state's ailing economy back on its feet.
"Called on Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji today and discussed various issues with him. I sincerely hope for necessary support from the Central Government on pressing issues of Punjab," read the statement.