The five erstwhile kings of the Dangs district in south Gujarat are unhappy
with the recent announcement of a 25 per cent hike in the political pension and
have written a letter to Chief Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to give a
pension of Rs 25,000 to each king and Rs 5,000 to the nayaks.
The Chief Minister had recently announced the hike in the pension. However,
the tribal rulers felt that the hike was insufficient and have planned a
meeting with Modi on Tuesday to put forward their case.
The pension given to the five erstwhile rulers varied from Rs 5600 to Rs
3888 per month, whereas the nayaks received a pension between Rs 250 to Rs 400
per month. The ex-rulers believe that all the kings should receive an equal
amount as pension.
The state has been providing a political pension to the rulers, nayaks and
babubhands (assistants) of the tribal-dominated Dangs district since 1954. Over
the years, the pension was increased gradually by the government. The five
kings and nayaks claim that their living standards have rapidly declined and
that many of their sons have started work as labourers, and hence the need for
the increase in their pension.
“The financial situation is pitiful and since we have big family, it has
become difficult for us to survive with the low pension. Our lands and
everything had gone to the state government and we have no other source of
income,” said the King of Vasorna, Dhanrajsinh Puwar.
King of Daher Tapanrao Puwar said, “I am responsible for my family .The
amount which we get from the government is not sufficient and we work in the
fields but with such a big family it becomes difficult for us to survive. There
is no other source of income in Dangs.”
