The Uttar Pradesh government announced a monthly pension of Rs 50,000 for life to recipients of the Yash Bharti Samman on Wednesday. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, wife Jaya Bachchan and son Abhishek Bachchan happen to be the first beneficiaries of the scheme.
Yash Bharti Samman is the highest honour accorded by the state govt with a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to the recipients earlier. As per the revised version, the awardees will now get Rs 11 lakh, a shawl and a citation.
Sr. Bachchan later issued a statement saying he would write to the state govt to pass on the entire pension amount of his family to a charity working for a noble cause.
Amitabh’s statement: “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.”