Suresh Raina criticised for applying for a government pension scheme

Suresh Raina, who recently made a comeback into the national team, has come under some heavy criticism from fans for applying for a high paying pension plan under the Uttar Pradesh Government scheme.

According to reports, Suresh Raina has applied for a Rs 50,000 monthly pension under the Yash Bharti awards scheme. Officials in the state’s culture department said artists who had applied for the Rs 50,000 pension included cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina, singers Shubha Mudgal, Kailash Kher, Rajan-Sajan Mishra and Channulal Mishra and actors Jimmy Shergill, Raj Babbar and his wife Nadira Babbar.

The Yash Bharti award is given to eminent persons belonging to the state in the fields of art, culture, sports, literature, medicine, journalism and social service. The pension scheme is amongst the highest paying schemes in the state. The department had sent out letters to all 141 awardees with a copy of the application form, asking them to apply for the pension.

Officials said they had received over 100 applications until January 31, the last date to apply for the pension. Mohammad Kaif too said he did not want to turn down the honour and had therefore filed his application. Singer Kailash Kher was another artist who justified the need of applying for the pension.

“The phrase ‘kabhi arsh par toh kabhi farsh par’ (sometimes in the sky and sometimes on the ground) is what defines artistes like us. This money will do lot of good to those who need it badly because in our field, there is a lot of uncertainty,” he said.

While other sportspersons and artistes have happily welcomed the pension, Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya and son Abhishek have turned down the money. The share of the money allotted to them will be used in charity efforts.