Freedom Fighters: Facilities, Total Number, Funds Disbursed, Grievances etc.

(a): As per the data furnished by Public Sector Banks and State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, about 49,000 freedom fighters and their eligible dependents are drawing Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension from the Public Sector Banks and State Treasuries. State-wise break-up is not maintained. 

(b): Receipt and disposal of claims for grant of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension is a continuous process. No application, complete in all respects and recommended by the State Government is pending except 127 re-verification reports from Government of Andhra Pradesh which relate to applications for sanction of samman pension for participation in Hyderabad Liberation Movement. These verification reports alongwith applications for sanction of samman pension for participation in Hyderabad Liberation Movement which meet the eligibility criteria for sanction of pension are required to be considered by the Screening Committee of Eminent Freedom Fighters.

(c): Details of facilities provided by the Central Government to the freedom fighters are given as per the annexure. The total funds disbursed during each of the last three years are given under:-

(Rupees in crore)

(d) & (e): Under the Swatrantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 the monthly basic pension admissible to Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners, freedom fighters who suffered outside British India and other freedom fighters including INA is Rs. 7,330/-, Rs. 6,830/- and Rs. 6,330/- respectively in addition to dearness relief at the rate of 165% of the basic pension. Ex-Andaman political prisoners are eligible for highest basic pension because they had undergone five years or more of imprisonment in Andaman cellular jail in connection with the freedom struggle. The freedom fighters who suffered imprisonment outside British India are eligible for slightly higher basic pension than that admissible to other freedom fighters.

However, no such complaint in this regard has been received.

(i) Free railway pass-AC-II Class in Rajdhani, Chair Car in Shatabdi trains and First Class/AC Sleeper in all other trains for freedom fighter and his widow along with a companion, for life.

(ii) Free medical facilities in all Central Government hospitals and hospitals run by PSUs under the control of the Bureau of Public Enterprises. C.G.H.S. facilities have also been extended to freedom fighters and their dependents;

(iii) telephone connection, subject to feasibility, without installation charges and on payment of only half the rental;

(iv) provision for 2% reservation under “Freedom Fighter” category in the normal selection procedure adopted by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies for allotment of petrol pumps, gas agencies etc.

(v) General Pool residential accommodation (within the overall 5% discretionary quota) to freedom fighters in Delhi. Widow of the freedom fighter is also permitted to retain the accommodation for a period of six months after death of the freedom fighter; and

(vi) Accommodation in the Freedom Fighters’ Home set up at New Delhi for freedom fighters who have no one to look after them.

In addition to the above facilities, ex-Andaman freedom fighters/their widows are also entitled to free air travel facility to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands, once a year, along with a companion.

Above information was submitted by MHA in reply of undermentioned Lok Sabha:-

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4751

4751 . Shri SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR

JAI PRAKASH AGARWAL

RAJAIAH SIRICILLA

R. DHRUVANARAYANA

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the total number of freedom fighters, their widows and the eligible dependents of freedom fighters who are receiving pension under the `Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980` separately, State-wise;

(b) the total number of applications received/pending/rejected for grant of pension to the freedom fighters and the reasons for pendency of the applications along with the steps taken to clear all the pending applications, State-wise;

(c) the details of facilities provided to them and the total funds disbursed during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has received any complaints with regard to variation of amount of pension disbursed to freedom fighters in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government to address all the grievances/problems of freedom fighters?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

**see above***

Source: http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=139228

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