<p>Pension of freedom fighters has been increased by the government after introducing a hike of 218 per cent in DA in 2014-15, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In a message on the occasion of 73rd anniversary of Quit India movement, Singh said he bows to freedom fighters who worked tirelessly to make India independent in 1947.<br /><br />The Home Minister said Mahatma Gandhi had led the movement from the front and thousands of people joined him to become freedom fighters.<br /><br />"Today is the 73rd anniversary of historic Quit India movement. This movement paved the way for India's freedom.<br /><br />"Government has increased the pension of freedom fighters or their dependent family members by introducing a hike of 218 per cent in DA relief in 2014-15," he said in the message.<br /><br />The revised rate of pension as on August 1, 2014 after enhancement of DA from 193 per cent to 218 per cent 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme (FFPS) was introduced on August 15, 1972 during Silver Jubilee year.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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).</p>
<p>Pension of freedom fighters has been increased by the government after introducing a hike of 218 per cent in DA in 2014-15, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In a message on the occasion of 73rd anniversary of Quit India movement, Singh said he bows to freedom fighters who worked tirelessly to make India independent in 1947.<br /><br />The Home Minister said Mahatma Gandhi had led the movement from the front and thousands of people joined him to become freedom fighters.<br /><br />"Today is the 73rd anniversary of historic Quit India movement. This movement paved the way for India's freedom.<br /><br />"Government has increased the pension of freedom fighters or their dependent family members by introducing a hike of 218 per cent in DA relief in 2014-15," he said in the message.<br /><br />The revised rate of pension as on August 1, 2014 after enhancement of DA from 193 per cent to 218 per cent 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme (FFPS) was introduced on August 15, 1972 during Silver Jubilee year.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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).</p>