Government decides to re-start pension to those detained during Emergency

The Rajasthan government on Friday decided to re-start pension to those detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency in 1975-77.

In a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje decided to re-start the scheme, which was stopped by the erstwhile Congress government, Medical and Health Minister Rajendra Rathore told reporters here.

In 2009, the Gehlot government had reversed the decision taken by the Raje government during its first term to provide a pension of Rs 6,000 per month for the MISA and Defence of India Rules (DIR) detainees, and claimed that persons with criminal background were included in the beneficiary list.

Besides, the Cabinet decided to launch a special drive in every city on cleanliness from January 10 to 30, and all civic bodies had been directed to take it up on a war footing, Rathore said.

The Cabinet also reviewed ordinances that were issued by the previous Congress government in the last six months, he said, adding that the Jobner Agriculture University would be named after Shri Karan Singh, former ruler of Bikaner.

It was also decided that there was no need to extend the term of first Vice-Chancellors of Agriculture Universities at Jodhpur and Kota, and Jobner Agriculture University from one to three years, he said.