Pension & Facilities to Freedom Fighters: Total Number of Freedom Fighters, widows and the eligible dendents

Pension & Facilities to Freedom Fighters: Total Number of Freedom Fighters, widows and the eligible dependents of freedom fighters who are receiving pension under the Central “Swatrantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980” along with facilities provided to them separately, State-wise

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1583

ANSWERED ON: 08.12.2015

BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

C.S. PUTTARAJU

ALOK SANJAR

Will the Minister of

HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the total number of freedom fighters, widows and the eligible dependents of freedom fighters who are receiving pension under the Central “Swatrantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980” along with facilities provided to them 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 applications along with the steps taken to clear all the pending applications, State-wise;

(c) whether any irregularities in the disbursement of freedom fighter pension has been detected and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has directed the banks to update the records of such pensioners and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Banks in this regard; and

(e) the details of facilities given to freedom fighters and their eligible dependent along with the steps taken to enhance the facilities provided to freedom fighters?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): The total number of the freedom fighters, their widows and eligible dependents receiving Central Samman Pension through various Banks as on 30th June, 2015 under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, State-Wise is given in the Annexure-I. Apart from the pension, the freedom fighters/eligible dependents are also provided various facilities as per the Annexure-II.

(b): No application for grant of pension, complete in all respects and duly verified and recommended by the concerned State Government is pending with this Ministry.

(c)&(d): During the course of ongoing verification of pensioners receiving Central freedom fighter pension through various Public Sector Banks, certain irregularities like disbursement of pension to more than 3,000 dead pensioners for many years after their death, payment of wrong amount of pension to many pensioners, disbursement of dependent family pension to ineligible dependants who are not covered under the scheme have come to the notice of the Government. The banks were directed to recover the excess/wrong payment made to the pensioners/dead pensioners and on account of recoveries banks have so far remitted Rs.46.77 crore to the Central Government account. As a corrective measure, revised guidelines for the disbursement of Central Samman pension have been issued. Central Pension Accounting Office(CPAO) of the Ministry of Finance has been asked to keep reimbursement to the banks on account of Central Samman Pension within the budgetary provision. A Pension Disbursement Monitoring Cell has been set up to verify/monitor the disbursement of Central Freedom Fighter Pension by various Public Sector Banks to the eligible pensioners.

(e): The details of facilities given to the freedom fighters and their eligible dependents are as at Annexure-II. At present, the Government has no proposal to enhance the pension and facilities of freedom fighters.

State-wise number of Central Freedom Fighter Pensioners/ dependents who are drawing pension through Banks as on 30.06.2015

i) free railway pass-AC-II Class in Rajdhani trains, Chair Car in Shatabdi trains and 1st Class/AC Sleeper in all other trains for the freedom fighters/ their widows, along with a companion, for life;

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

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

iv) provision of 4% reservation under “Combined Category” for Physically Handicapped Personnel(PH), Outstanding Sports Persons(OSP) and Freedom Fighters(FF) 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 the freedom fighters in Delhi. Widow of a freedom fighter is also permitted to retain the accommodation for a period of six months after death of the freedom fighter;

vi) there is a Freedom Fighters’ Home at New Delhi providing transit accommodation for freedom fighters/ their eligible dependents; and 

vii) In addition to the above facilities, ex-Andaman freedom fighters/their widows have also been allowed to avail free air travel facility to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands, once a year, alongwith a companion.

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