14/01/2017

When there is unanimity among Nitish, Lalu and Sushil Modi





Patna,(BiharTimes): Though it is said that the JP Senani Samman Yojana was the brainchild of chief minister Nitish Kumar it was his then deputy and state’s finance minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other BJP leaders, who were among the greatest votaries of this scheme which was implemented in 2009.


No doubt, it was opposed by some section of people and intellectuals the media did not come out strongly for obvious reasons.


For eight long years about Rs 200 crore has been spent on paying pension of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 to 2,500 people who took part in the JP movement. But the issue was virtually forgotten later.


The news suddenly hit the headline, when of all the persons, former chief minister and railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s name figured in the list of 2,500 pensioners. Lalu, no doubt, is among the richest of all these pensioners, who will get Rs 10,000 per month.


Sushil Kumar Modi, who usually misses no opportunity to criticize the present government, is silent on the issue. The reason is understandable.


On all such issues benefiting politicians almost all the mainstream parties––barring some Left parties––are on the same page.


Be it the salary hike to ministers, parliamentarians and legislators or increase in pension to former elected representatives and provision of perks and security etc all the political parties are unanimous.


In Bihar in particular the decision to hike the salary and pensions to ministers and legislators as well as more security to them was taken when Nitish Kumar-Sushil Kumar Modi team was at work. Similarly, the Nitish Kumar government later decided to provide bungalows and other facilities to former CMs for whole life. Naturally the Lalu-Rabri family was the best beneficiary as they both had served as the chief ministers of Bihar.


Retired Professor of Economics of Patna University, N K Chaudhary was among the  few voices which had always opposed all these doles to the politicians. Even today he is of the same opinion.


“The scheme is not justified, morally, ethically and economically. The state government should immediately abandon this Yojana…The JP Movement was not the only movement. There have been others as well. What about them? Bihar  is an economically starved state and the government is not supposed to dole out public money on such schemes. This scheme is not justified at all,” he was quoted in the media as saying.


But Satyajit Kumar, President, of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bihar, who was generally appreciative of the Nitish Kumar government in the past, is critical of this scheme. According to him a whopping Rs 30 crore per annum would be spent on it.


“When thousands of teachers and professors are not getting their salaries, this scheme sounds weird. The government always cries for more funds from the Centre and at the same time, such a scheme has been introduced. It is unethical,” he said.

 

 

 

 

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