Lok Sabha Question No. 4123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Freedom Fighters Pension
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, ANWHAR RAAJHAA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4123

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2018/ PHALGUNA 29, 1939 (SAKA)

FREEDOM FIGHTERS PENSION

4123.

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  provisions  made  by  the  Government  for  grant  of pension to freedom fighters under the Central Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980;
- (b) whether the Government has relaxed the provisions of Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 from time to time;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  and  number  of  times  the  said  provision  have  been relaxed since its inception;
- (d) whether the State Government of Maharashtra and people's representatives have requested to the Government to extend the scope of freedom  fighters  of  'Hyderabad  Freedom  Struggle'  (Marathwada)  Mukti Sangram;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto; and
- (f) the time by which it is likely to be finalized?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

- ( a ) : the  details  of  the  provisions  made  by  the  Government  for  grant  of

pension to freedom fighters under the Central Swatantrata Sainik Samman

Pension Scheme, 1980 are at Annexure -I .

## L.S.US.Q.NO.4123 FOR 20.03.2018

( b ) & ( c ) : Yes  Madam . The Government has relaxed / modified the provisions of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 from time to time . The relaxed / modified policy for grant of pension under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 as on date ( renamed as Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana ) is at Annexure -II .

( d ) to ( f ) : 116  border  camps  had  been  identified  for  participation  of freedom  fighters  in  connection  with  Hyderabad  Liberation  Movement against Nizam,  which include 38 camps located in Maharashtra . A list of 38 such camps of Maharashtra is at Annexure -III .

******

## ANNEXURE -I/1 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

## PROVISIONS  FOR  GRANT  OF  PENSION  TO  FREEDOM  FIGHTERS  UNDER CENTRAL SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN PENSION SCHEME, 1980

1. A person who had suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in the mainland jails before Independence . Ex -INA personnel are also eligible  for  pension  if  the  imprisonment / detention  suffered  by  them was  outside  India  for  six  months  or  more . In  case  of  women  and SC / ST freedom fighters, the minimum period of actual imprisonment for eligibility of pension is three months .
2. A person who remained underground for six months or more provided he was :-
- i. A proclaimed offender;
- ii. One on whom an award for arrest / head was announced, or
- iii. One whose detention order was issued but not served .
3. A person who was interned in his home or externed from his district under the orders of the competent authority for six months or more .
4. A person whose property was confiscated or attached and sold due to participation in the National Freedom Struggle .
5. A  person  who  was  permanently  incapacitated  during  firing  or  lathi charge .
6. A person who lost his Government job ( including job in a local body ) for participation in the National Freedom Struggle .
7. To become eligible for pension an applicant has to submit documentary  evidence  duly  verified  by  the  State  Govt . along with their recommendation as per the following details :-
11. ( a ) IMPRISONMENT / DETENTION ETC .

Certificate from the concerned jail authorities, District Magistrates  or  the  State  Government  in  case  of  non -availability  of such certificates co -prisoner certificates from a sitting MP or MLA or Ex -MP or ex -MLA specifying the jail period .

## ( b ) REMAINED UNDERGROUND :

- (i) Documentary  evidence  by  way  of  Court ' s / Government  orders proclaiming the applicant as an offender, announcing an award on his head, or for his arrest or ordering his detention .
- (ii) Certificates from veteran freedom fighters who had themselves undergone  imprisonment  for  five  years  or  more  if  the  official records are not forthcoming due to their non -availability .

## ( c ) INTERNMENT OR EXTERNMENT

- (i) Order  of  internment  or  externment  or  any  other  corroboratory documentary evidence .
- (ii) Certificates from prominent freedom fighters who had themselves  undergone  imprisonment  for  five  years  or  more  if the official records are not available .

Note :-The  Certifier  veteran  freedom  fighters  in  respect  of underground suffering, internment / externment and the applicant should  belong  to  the  same  administrative  unit  before  the reorganization of States and their area of operation must be the same .

## ( d ) LOSS OF PROPERTY, JOB, ETC .

Orders  of  confiscation  and  sale  of  property,  Orders  of  dismissal  or removal from service .

8. For the purpose of grant of Samman pension, family includes ( if  the freedom fighter is not alive ) mother, father, widower / widow if he / she has  not  since  remarried,  unmarried  daughters . Not  more  than  one eligible  dependent  can  be  granted  pension  and  in  the  event  of availability  of  more  than  one  dependent  the  sequence  of  eligibility will be widow / widower, unmarried daughters, mother and father .

## ANNEXURE -I/2 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

## ANNEXURE -II/1 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

PRESENT DETAILS OF PROVISIONS ADMISSIBLE FOR GRANT OF PENSION UNDER  SWATANTRATA  SAINIK  SAMMAN  PENSION  SCHEME,  1980  (NOW RENAMED AS SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN YOJANA)

1. A person who had suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in mainland  jails  before  Independence . Ex -INA  personnel  are  also eligible  for  pension  if  the  imprisonment / detention  suffered  by  them was  outside  India  for  six  months  or  more . In  case  of  women  and SC / ST freedom fighters, the minimum period of actual imprisonment for eligibility of pension is three months .
2. A person who remained underground for six months or more provided he was :-
3. i . A proclaimed offender;
4. ii . One on whom an award for arrest / head was announced, or
5. iii . One whose detention order was issued but not served .
3. A person who was interned in his home or externed from his district under the orders of the competent authority for six months or more .
4. A person whose property was confiscated or attached and sold due to participation in the National Freedom Struggle .
5. A  person  who  was  permanently  incapacitated  during  firing  or  lathi charge .
6. A person who lost his Government job ( including job in a local body ) for participation in the National Freedom Struggle .
10. 7 . To become eligible for pension an applicant has to submit documentary evidence duly verified by the State Govt . along with their recommendation as per the following details :-

## IN CASE OF IMPRISONMENT :-

- (a) Imprisonment / detention  certificate  from  the  concerned  jail  authority, District Magistrate or the State Govt . indicating the period of sentence awarded,  date  of  admission,  date  of  release,  facts  of  the  case  and reasons for release .

## ANNEXURE -II/2 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

- (b) In case records of the relevant period are not available, the secondary evidences in the form of 2 co -prisoner certificates ( CPC ) from freedom fighters who have proven jail suffering of minimum 1 year and who were with  the  applicant  in  the  jail  could  be  considered  provided  the  State Government / Union Territory Administration concerned, after due verification of the claim and its genuineness, certifies that documentary evidences from the official records in support of the claimed sufferings were not available . In case the certifier happens to be a sitting or Ex . M . P ./ M . L . A . , only one certificate in place of the two is required .

## IN CASE OF UNDERGROUND SUFFERING :-

- (a) Documentary  evidence  by  way  of  Court ' s / Govt ' s  orders  proclaiming the applicant as an absconder, announcing an award on his head or for his arrest or ordering his detention .
- (b) In  case  records  of  the  relevant  period  are  not  available,  secondary evidence in the form of  a Personal Knowledge Certificate ( PKC ) from a prominent freedom fighter who has proven jail suffering of a minimum two years and who happened to be from the same administrative unit could be considered provided the State Government / Union Territory Administration concerned,  after  due  verification  of  the  claim  and  its  genuineness, certifies that documentary evidences from the official records in support of the claimed sufferings were not available .

## IN CASE OF INTERNMENT / EXTERNMENT :-

A  person  who,  on  account  of  participation  in  the  freedom  struggle,  was interned in his home or externed from his district for a minimum period of 6 months  is eligible subject to furnishing of order of internment or externment issued by  the  competent  authority,  from  official  records . In absence  of  the  official  records,  Non -Availability  of  Records  Certificate ( NARC ) from  the  concerned  authorities  along  with  a  certificate  from prominent  freedom  fighters  who  had  themselves  undergone  suffering  of imprisonment for two years or more .

## IN CASE OF LOSS OF PROPERTY :-

A  person  whose  property  was  confiscated  or  attached  and  sold  due  to participation  in  the  freedom  struggle  is  eligible  subject  to  furnishing  of orders  of  confiscation  and  sale  of  property,  provided  that  the  persons whose property was restored are not eligible for Samman Pension .

## ANNEXURE -II/3 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

## IN CASE OF PERMANENT INCAPACITATION :-

- (a) Certificate  from the District Magistrate stating  that  permanent incapacitation  was  done  by  bullet  injury / lathi  charge  sustained  during participation in the National freedom Struggle and
- (b) Medical certificate from the Civil Surgeon in support of the handicap .

## IN CASE OF LOSS OF GOVERNMENT JOB :-

A  person  who  lost  his  Govt . job  for  participation  in  freedom  struggle  is eligible  subject  to  furnishing  of  orders  of  dismissal  or  removal  from service . However, persons who were reinstated in service before expiry of  two  years  from  their  dismissal  or  removal  from  service  and  were  in receipt of benefits or pay and allowances are not eligible for pension .

## IN CASE OF CANING / FLOGGING / WHIPPING :-

A person who was awarded the punishment of 10 strokes of caning / flogging / whipping  due  to  his  participation  in  freedom  struggle  is eligible subject to furnishing of copies of orders passed by the competent authority from official records .

- 8 . For the purpose of grant of Samman pension, family includes ( if  the freedom fighter is not alive ) mother, father, widower / widow if he / she has not  since  remarried,  unmarried  daughters . Not  more  than  one  eligible dependent can be granted pension and in the event of availability of more than  one  dependent  the  sequence  of  eligibility  will  be  widow / widower, unmarried daughters, mother and father .
9. The list of 40 movements which have been recognized from time to time  by  the  Government  for  grant  of  Central  Samman  Pension  under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana are at Appendix .

## APPENDIX/1 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

LIST  OF  MOVEMENTS  RECOGNISED  FOR  GRANT  OF  SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN PENSION SCHEME, 1980 ( NOW RENAMED AS SWATANTRATA SAINIK  SAMMAN  YOJANA )

1. Suez Canal Army Revolt in 1943 during Quit - India Movement & Ambala  Cantt . Army Revolt in 1943 .

2. Jhansi Regiment Case in Army ( 1940 ).

3. Rani Jhansi Regiment and Azad Hind of INA ( 1943 - 45 ).

4. Hollwell Monument Removal Movement conducted by Netaji in 1940 at Calcutta .

5. Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, 1946 .

6. Khilafat Movement .

7. Harsha Chhina Mogha Morcha ( 1946 - 47 ).

8. Mopla Rebellion ( 1921 - 22 ).

9. Arya Samaj Movement in the erstwhile Hyderabad State ( 1938 - 39 ).

10. Madurai Conspiracy Case ( 1945 - 47 ).

11. Border Camp Cases in erstwhile Hyderabad State ( 1947 - 48 ).

12. The Ghadar Movement .

13. The Gurudwara Reform Movement ( 192 -- 25 ) including :-

- (a) Taran Taran Morcha .

- (b) Nankana Tragedy of February ( 1920 ).

- (c) The Golden Temple Ke Affairs ( Morcha Chabian Saheb ).

- (d) Guru  ka Bagh Morcha .

- (e) Babar Akali Movement .

- (f) Jaito Morch .

- (g) Bhai Pheru Morcha; and

- (h) The Sikh Conspiracy ( Golden Temple ) of 1924 .

14. Praja Mandal Movement in the erstwhile Princely States ( 1939 - 49 ).

15. Kirti Kisan Movement ( 1927 ).
16. Navjavan Sabha ( 1926 -31 ).
17. Quit India Movement ( 1942 ).
18. INA and IIL ( 1942 to 1946 )
19. Merger Movement in the former French and Portuguese possessions in India .
6. 20 Peshawar Kand in which members of the Garhwal Rifles took part .
7. 21 Red Leaf Conspiracy Case ( 1931 ).
8. 22 Chauri Chaura Kand ( 1922 ).
9. 23 Aranya Satyagraha of Karnataka ( 1939 -40 ).
10. 24 Goa Liberation Movement .
11. 25 Kalipattanam Agitation ( 1941 -42 ).
12. 26 Kallara -Pangode case .
13. 27 Kadakkal Riot case .
14. 28 Chengannur Riot case .
15. 29 Vattiyoorkavu Conference .
16. 30 Anti -Independent Travancore .
17. 31 Punnapra -Vayalar Movement .
18. 32 Karlvelloor Movement .
19. 33 . Kauvambal Movement .
20. 34 . Kayyur Movement .
21. 35 . Morazha Movement .
22. 36 . Malabar Special Police Strike ( MSP Strike ).
23. 37 . Dadra and Nagar Haveli Movement .
24. 38 . Goa Liberation Movement, Phase -II .
25. 39 . Kuka Namdhari Movement , 1871 .
26. 40 . Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 1919 .

## APPENDIX/2 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

## Name of the Camps at Maharashtra

- 1 . Agalgaon
- 2 . Aurangabad City
- 3 . Balam Takli
- 4 . Chincholi
- 5 . Deolgaon  Raja
- 6 . Dhamangaon & Jambore
- 7 . Dhanora
- 8 . Dighi
- 9 . Erandgaon
- 10 . Gaudgaon I & II
- 11 . Gholasgaon
- 12 . Goverdhan Sarala
- 13 . Hatwalan
- 14 . Kajala
- 15 . Kamalja
- 16 . Karanjee
- 17 . Kharda I & II
- 18 . Kolta Takli
- 19 . Loni
- 20 . Mirajgaon
- 21 . Musti
- 22 . Pangaon
- 23 . Pathardi
- 24 . Patonda

## ANNEXURE -III/1 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018

- 25 . Sadegaon
- 26 . Shembal Pimpri
- 27 . Shendurni
- 28 . Sonosi & Pangri
- 29 . Suregaon
- 30 . Toka
- 31 . Umarkhed
- 32 . Vidul
- 33 . Vyad
- 34 . Wagdari I & II
- 35 . Washim
- 36 . Action Committee ' s Central Office at Bomaby & Sub -Office at Nagpur
- 37 . Action  Committee ' s  regional  Office  at  Manmad  &  Sub -Office at Sholapur
- 38 . Sholapur Chikkarji .
- ------

## ANNEXURE -III/2 LS . US . Q . NO . 4123 FOR 20 . 03 . 2018