Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Ex-MLAs seek pension hike

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD March 23. Criticising the Government for its alleged failure in providing the assured facilities to former MLAs, the AP former MLAs Forum has demanded that the Government hike pensions for ex-MLAs on a par with other states.

The members of the forum who met here on Sunday also criticised the Government for not taking steps to fulfil the assurance given by the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to solve the problems faced by former legislators on health and other grounds.

Addressing the participants, the forum convenor, K. Subba Raju, lamented that the pensions being provided to former MLAs in Andhra Pradesh were much less, compared with other States including the small states like Jammu & Kashmir and Mizoram. "The pension extended to former legislators in Mizoram is Rs. 5,000 and in Maharashtra it is Rs. 4,000. But the former MLAs in Andhra Pradesh are being paid a meagre Rs. 1,000 after their first term and Rs. 2,000 if they complete the second term,'' he said.

He demanded that the Government extend the free travel facility to former legislators in the State-owned road transport corporation buses on the lines of 14 other States while extending medical facilities on a par with the sitting members.

Speaking on the occasion, the former Congress legislator, G. Venkata Reddy, alleged that despite the steep increase in the prices of all commodities that resulted in a higher cost of living, the Government is not taking steps to give facilities to the former MLAs, a majority of whom are freedom fighters. "The Government should take steps to provide facilities for the treatment of former MLAs in corporate hospitals without making advance payments,'' he demanded.

The forum also demanded that the Government take steps to see that the former legislators are invited to all the official functions as well as the budget and planning meetings in their respective areas and seek their suggestions.

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