Lucknow: Several personalities, including cricketer Suresh Raina, Congress leader Raj Babbar and his wife Nadira, classical vocalist Girija Devi and Chhannulal Mishra, who were honoured with the Yash Bharti award by the Uttar Pradesh government, have applied for the administration’s offer of a monthly pension of Rs 50,000, a report said on Saturday.


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According to a report published in 'The Times of India', as the UP government headed by Akhilesh Yadav sent a notification on the pension scheme to all the 141 awardees, 100 people applied for the pension scheme till January 31, the last date to submit the application.


Bollywood's biggest star Amitabh Bachchan, his wife Jaya and son Abhishek, who also received the Yash Bharti award, had politely declined the pension offer by the UP government.


"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," Amitabh Bachchan said in a statement.


While Raj Babbar didn't respond to text messages of 'TOI', Suresh Raina said, "Why are you asking me? Ask the chief minister."


The award is given to eminent persons belonging to the state in the fields of art, culture, sports, literature, medicine, journalism and social service.