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Freedom
fighters pension has been increased by the government after introducing a hike of
218% in DA in 2014-15, Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday on the occasion of
73rd anniversary of Quit India movement.
Singh also said he bows to freedom fighters
who worked tirelessly for freedom of this country.
The Home Minister further said Mahatma
Gandhi had led the movement from the front and thousands of people joined him
to become freedom fighters.
"Government
has increased the pension of freedom fighters or their dependent family members
by introducing a hike of 218% in DA relief in 2014-15," he said in the
message as per news reports.
The revised rate of pension as on August 1, 2014 after
enhancement of DA from 193% to 218% is Rs 23,309 per month for Ex-Andaman
political prisoners, Rs 20,1291 for freedom fighters/spouses, Rs 4,770 for
unmarried/unemployed daughters and Rs 10,064 for two spouses.
The number central freedom fighters pensioners as on
January 1, 2015 were 11,434 and the widows and eligible dependents were 24,466,
total of which is 35,900.
The Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme (FFPS) was
introduced on August 15, 1972 during Silver Jubilee year.
Till July 31, 1980, the Freedom Fighters' pension was
admissible only to those who needed financial assistance on account of their
meagre gross income; and the minimum pension sanctioned to a freedom fighter
was Rs 200 per month.
The benefit of FFPS was extended to all freedom fighters
as a token respect (Samman) with effect from August 1, 1980 under Swatantarta
Sainik Samman Pension Scheme. The highest number of freedom fighter
pensioners live in Telangana (6,204), followed by Andhra Pradesh (6,031), West
Bengal (4,394), Maharashtra (3,866), Bihar (2,972), Tamil Nadu (2,005) and
Uttar Pradesh (1,710).
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News
Source- PTI/DNA
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