Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan Government to rename Atal Seva Kendra to Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the state government has decided to reverse the Atal Seva Kendra (Seva Kendra at village Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti level) as Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra, the original name.

Owing to the Rajasthan High Court order on January 19, Gehlot told ANI: "We wanted to name it Rajiv Gandhi Atal Seva Kendra but on High Court's order it will be named Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra."

Rajasthan has nearly 10,000 Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras at village panchayat and Panchayat Samiti levels which provide public utility services to rural people. It also has 33 Atal Suvidha Kendras at the district level.

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In 2014, former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje-led government had renamed the kendras to honour former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary. The renaming was seen as the Raje's tribute to the BJP veteran but the decision had invited flak and was challenged in the court.

The plea against the then BJP-led government's move was filed in 2015 by Congress leader Sanyam Lodha, who had reportedly termed the decision unlawful and disrespectful to former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi, also a Bharat Ratna recipient.

Holding the government's December 28, 2014, order as void, the bench of Justice M N Bhandari directed the Ministry of Rural Development to ensure that such matters do not arise again.

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Earlier, the Rajasthan cabinet directed the removal of Deendayal Upadhyay's photograph from state government documents and letter pads. The cabinet also ordered the withdrawal of  December 11, 2017 circular, in which the previous government led by Vasundhara Raje had issued the directions to insert the picture of Upadhyay in letter pads.

The Rajasthan government also issued a notification for an increase in the monthly amount of old age pension from Rs.500 to Rs.750. It was noted that those getting Rs.750 will now get Rs.1,000, according to aan order from the state government.

(With agency inputs)