Pension to employees was considered as delayed wages and a sign of gratitude. It then was extended to government employees and other departments as a social security measure.
The ludicrous extension of pension to MLAs, MPs even for one day in office was violating tenets of pension statutes. As citizens began criticizing, pension was extended to freedom fighters at state and central level . The process of identification and recommendations of FF leaves much to be desired. Now more categories are clamouring for the same and it is being granted to seamen, widows, artists, handicapped, motorcycle pilots and senior citizens. The criteria must strictly be followed that only the most deserving and vulnerable to economic deprivation are considered in any category.
The government now invests only the employees contribution to pension fund and accruing interests will be the amount of pension. Politicians too must subscribe to pension fund and be eligible accordingly. Citizens forget that all these pension schemes are funded by citizens paying direct and indirect taxes and thus bearing the burden of popular schemes that help politicians to perpetuate their stay in power.
