Govt-appointed body discusses hiking freedom fighters pension

A government-appointed committee today considered increasing the basic pension of freedom fighters and other benefits offered to their children, grand children and dependent family members.
The meeting of the Committee of Eminent Freedom Fighters, chaired by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, also discussed issues like verification of freedom fighters and dependents family pensioners, switch over of bank accounts from State Bank of India to other nationalised banks.
The meeting was informed that the number of central freedom fighters pensioners as on January 1, 2015 is 11,434 and the widows and eligible dependents are 24,466, the total of which comes to 35,900.

The participants highlighted the problems faced by the freedom fighter pensioners in processing their pensions and also sought increase in pension to unmarried and unemployed daughters.
Assuring the participants, Rijiju said the Home Ministry will update the quota available to freedom fighters beneficiaries, an official release said.
Issues such as granting reservation in central government services to all dependents of freedom fighters, permitting their grandchildren to study in central schools, providing employment to their families including petrol pump, gas agency etc, giving job in railways to at least one person recommended by freedom fighters and providing free electricity to all freedom fighters were considered by the committee.