Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana – Eligibility, Distribution and Details of Beneficiaries for Freedom Fighters and Dependents

Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana – Eligibility, Distribution and Details of Beneficiaries for Freedom Fighters and Dependents: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 254 answered on 22nd July, 2025.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 254

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025/ ASHADHA 13, 1947 (SAKA)

SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN YOJANA

254. SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the details and total number of freedom fighters who have received a Central pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) till date, State-wise data;

(b) the number of these pensioners who are still alive and their distribution, State-wise;

(c) the number of widows of freedom fighters who are currently receiving a family pension and the number who are still alive, State-wise;

(d) the eligibility criteria for a family pension under this scheme and the eligibility criteria for the dependents;

(e) the total amount of funds allocated and disbursed for the scheme during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise; and

(f) whether there is a central repository where details of all freedom fighters and their contributions can be accessed by the public, if not, the reasons for not creating such a database?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)

(a): There are 171689 Freedom Fighters who received a Central pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) till date, state-wise data is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(b): There are 13212 pensioners who are still alive and receiving SSSY Samman pension. State-wise data is given at Annexure-II;

(c): There are 9778 widows (spouse) who are still alive and are receiving SSSY Samman pension. State-wise data is given at Annexure- III.

(d): The eligibility criteria for a family pension and for the dependents under this scheme is given at Annexure –IV.

(e): The total funds allotted and disbursed for the scheme during the last five years is as under :

However, State-wise disbursement of fund on account of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is not maintained by this Ministry.

(f): Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi which is an autonomous body of M/o Human Resource Development, Govt. of India maintain the list of freedom fighters/martyrs of India freedom struggle under a project entitled “Dictionary of Martyrs : Indian Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”.

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TOTAL NUMBER OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED CENTRAL PENSION UNDER THE SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN YOJANA TILL DATE.

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TOTAL NUMBER OF PENSIONERS WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND THEIR STATEWISE DISTRIBUTIONS.

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STATEWISE LIST OF TOTAL NUMBER OF WIDOWS/SPOUSE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND DRAWING PENSION UNDER SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN YOJANA.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 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 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:-

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.

(b) In case of 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 order 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.

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.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR A FAMILY PENSION AND FOR THE DEPENDENTS UNDER THE SCHEMES

For the purpose of grant of Samman pension, family, after death of a freedom fighter pensioner, family pension is granted to his/her spouse and after death of the spouse their unmarried daughters (upto maximum of three such daughters), mother or father are granted dependent family pension.

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