Cabinet gives ex-post facto approval to enhancement of pension for freedom fighters

The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to enhancement of pension for freedom fighters and for the spouses (widows/widowers), eligible daughters and dependent parents of deceased freedom fighters under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme (SSSPS), 1980.

The existing pension scheme for central freedom fighter pensioners and their eligible dependents has been restructured as follows:-

Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners/ spouses

Rs. 24,775 (Present amount of pension per month)

Rs. 30,000/- (Enhanced amount of pension per month)

Freedom fighters who suffered outside British India/spouses

Rs. 23,085/- (Present amount of pension per month)

Rs. 28,000/- (Enhanced amount of pension per month)

Other Freedom Fighters / spouses including INA

Rs. 21,395/- (Present amount of pension per month)

Rs. 26,000/- (Enhanced amount of pension per month)

Dependent parents/eligible daughters (maximum 3 daughters at any point of time)

Rs. 3,380/- (Present amount of pension per month)

50 percent of the sum that would have been admissible to the Freedom Fighter i.e. in the range of Rs. 13,000/- to Rs. 15,000/- (Enhanced amount of pension per month)

(i)The revised scale of pension has taken effect from 15.O8.2016. Further, the revised total amount of pension will be taken as basic pension for the respective categories of Freedom Fighter pensioners for calculating Dearness Relief.

(ii)The existing Dearness Relief system based on All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers, which was so far applicable to freedom fighter pensioners on annual basis, is being discontinued and replaced by the Dearness Allowance system applicable to Central Government employees twice a year. This will be termed as "Dearness Relief", the appropriate term in case of pensioners.

All freedom fighters and spouses and dependent parents/eligible daughter pensioners of deceased freedom fighters drawing pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 would be benefitted by the decision.

Till 2016, a total of 1,71,605 freedom fighters and their eligible dependents have been sanctioned pension under the scheme. At present, 37,981 freedom fighters and their eligible dependent pensioners are covered under the scheme.

Out of these, 11,690 are freedom fighters themselves, 24,792 are spouses (widows/ widowers) and 1,490 are daughter pensioners. Instructions have been issued to all the authorized banks for ensuring Aadhar linked disbursement of Freedom Fighter pension as early as possible.