Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, moved by freedom fighter Gayatri Devi’s fight for pension, has decided to support her financially for the coming five years. He said that she only wanted her due which is a meager Rs.3500 per month.

 

He said, “I am moved by their plight. Particularly that of the 90-year-old lady, and have announced that I shall take care of her pension for the next five years. She blesses me,” and added, “She has only that element of humanity left in her. She can barely walk. And she is old. And all she wants is her due — her pension — Rs.3,500 per month from the government!!”

 

The statement came at the Network’s Citizen Journalist Awards where he expressed his feelings for the 90 year old Gayatri Devi.

 

Ms.Devi had been getting her pension from the Bihar government since 1997 under the Samman pension scheme. The problem started in 2002 when her name apparently got listed under the fake freedom fighters list owing to which her pension was stopped.

 

Devi sought help from a number of well known leaders and even got applications written by them to consider her plea but all in vain. The lady has been protesting on the streets ever since.   

 

Media later filed an RTI on her behalf. Immediately, the Delhi government intervened in the matter. Ms. Devi has been shifted to an old age home and approved her destitute pension. Her battle against the Bihar government, however, will continue her freedom fighter’s pension is restored.