Amitabh Bachchan requests UP govt to donate Yash Bharti pension amount to needy

Mumbai: Amid spate of litterateurs across the country returning state and central honours, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced Rs 50,000 monthly pension to Yash Bharti awardees of the state. In a press conference after a state cabinet meeting, Akhilesh said, "Our government has decided to provide Rs 50 thousand pension to Yash Bharti awardees of the state."

The award is given to eminent persons belonging to the state in the fields of art, culture, sports, literature, medicine, journalism and social service. When asked whether the pension would be given even if
they award was returned, Yadav said, "Pension will be given to the recipients. The situation of returning of award will not come in Samajwadi regime."

However, Amitabh Bachchan has requested the government to redirect the entire amount designated for his family towards noble charitable schemes. In a statement issued to the media, Amitabh said, "Whereas I respect the UP Govt’s honour of the Yash Bharati Award to members of my family, and their decision as per reports in the press, for providing pension of Rs 50, 000 per month to each recipient, I am requesting the UP Govt., with all humility, to redirect the entire amount designated for my family towards any noble charitable scheme or cause that benefits the poor and the needy. I shall be writing to the Chief Minister in this regard, in a separate communication."