Facilities provided to freedom fighters and their family members

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1356

ANSWERED ON 13.08.2013

FACILITIES TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS

1356 . Shri TUFANI SAROJ
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the details of facilities provided to freedom fighters and their family members, separately; 

(b) whether the Government has any proposal to provide more facilities to the freedom fighters and their family members; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

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

(a): The freedom fighters and their eligible dependents are entitled to receive Samman Pension under the provisions of the Swatantrata Samman Sainik Pension Scheme, 1980. At present, an amount of Rs.16775/- (basic pension Rs. 6330/- plus dearness relief Rs. 10445/-) to the freedom fighters /widows; Rs.3975 (basic pension Rs.1500 plus dearness relief Rs.2475) to each of unmarried and unemployed daughters (upto maximum three) and Rs. 2650/- (basic pension Rs.1000 plus dearness relief Rs.1650) to mother and father of the deceased freedom fighters is admissible w.e.f. 1.8.2012. The dearness relief is revised annually with effect from 1st August on the basis ofannual average increase in All India Consumer Price Index. Apart from the pension, freedom fighters are also provided other facilities as per the annexure. 

ANNEXURE

Facilities available to the Freedom Fighters

 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 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 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; 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 have also been allowed to avail free air travel facility to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands, once a year, alongwith a companion.

(b) & (c): At present, the Government has no proposal to expand the scope of the Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme, 1980.

Courtesy : http://karnmk.blogspot.in/