AP Former Legislators Forum leaders meet Chief Minister
The Andhra Pradesh Former Legislators Forum (APFLF) has urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to enhance the pension amount along the lines of the Telangana State. At present, former MLAs and MLCs are receiving Rs.30,000 as pension per month. The Telangana State has enhanced it to Rs.50,000. In view of increasing family expenses and increasing essential goods costs, the pension amount should be increased in the State, the Forum said.
APFLF honorary president Divi Sivaram (Ex-MLA), president MV Siva Reddy (Ex-MLC), vice-president Jalli Wilson (Ex-MLC) secretaries P Kanaka Sundara Rao (Ex-MLA) and Rudra Raju Padma Raju (Ex-MLC) met the Chief Minister and submitted a representation in this regard at the AP Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. Later, they met Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrdu and Council Chairman Koyye Moshen Raju, Legislative Affairs Minister Payyavula Keshav and BJP and JSP leaders, and submitted representations.
During the meeting with Chandrababu Nadiu, the forum leaders said that the pension amount for the former MLAs and MLCs has not been enhanced for the past 10 years. They are working among the public to provide services to them. However, they are facing financial problems. Most of the former MLAs and MLCs belong to the backward sections, so they are facing financial troubles as the present pension amount is not sufficient, they added.
Further, they asked the CM to examine the enhancement of the pension amount in Telangana and take appropriate steps to increase the pension amount in Andhra Pradesh. For that, they handed over the Telangana State government Gazette copy to Chandrababu.
Later, they said they were unable to take medicines at either the Secretariat Dispensary or the District Hospital. Many former legislatures are unable to take medicines due to their health problems and old age. So, the government should make arrangements to provide medicines at the government-selected branded medical shops, they urged.
They also requested Chief Minister Naidu to allot 500 square yards of house sites in Amaravati at a nominal price as many ex-MLAs and MLCs do not own houses. Additionally, they requested Naidu to provide accommodation for class 3 at the AP Guest House in New Delhi and to amend the present prices. Further, they asked for a room on the premises of the Assembly, protocol facility, exemption from the toll charges for their vehicles and accommodation, and darshan facility at all Grade 1 temples including Tirumala.
