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:-
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Category of Freedom Fighters | Present amount of pension (per month) | Enhanced amount of pension (per month)
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| 1. | Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners/ spouses
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Rs. 24,775 | Rs. 30,000/- |
| 2. | Freedom fighters who suffered outside British India/spouses | Rs. 23,085/- | Rs. 28,000/-
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| 3. | Other Freedom Fighters / spouses including INA | Rs. 21,395/- | Rs. 26,000/-
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| 4. | Dependent parents/eligible daughters (maximum 3 daughters at any point of time) | Rs. 3,380/- | 50% 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/- |
(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.