13,212 freedom fighters still alive, getting pension: Govt to Parliament
New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI): A total of 13,212 freedom fighters are still alive and receiving pension from the government, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
There are also 9,778 widows of freedom fighters who receive pension under the Centre's Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY), Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
"There are 1,71,689 freedom fighters who received a central pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) till date. There are 13,212 pensioners who are still alive and receiving SSSY Samman pension. There are 9,778 widows (spouses) who are still alive and are receiving SSSY Samman pension," he said.
According to the data shared by Kumar, the Ministry of Home Affairs disbursed Rs 599 crore under the scheme in 2024-25.
Of the 13,212 freedom fighters still alive, the maximum of 3,017 are based in Telangana, followed by West Bengal (1,799), Maharashtra (1,543), Bihar (988) and Tamil Nadu (801).
Most of the 9,778 widows of freedom fighters are based in Telangana (2,165), followed by Maharashtra (1,274), West Bengal (1,095) and Bihar (693).
In effect since 1980, SSSY allows pensions to those who took part in about 40 events of the freedom struggle between 1857 and 1947.
Kumar said the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) in Delhi maintains the list of freedom fighters or martyrs of the country's freedom struggle under a project, entitled "Dictionary of Martyrs: Indian Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)".
The eligibility criteria for receiving pension under the scheme is -- a person who suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in mainland jails before independence.
In case of women and SC-ST freedom fighters, the minimum period of actual imprisonment to be eligible to receive pension is three months. A person who remained underground for six months or more is also eligible.
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Man kills 12-year-old nephew over property dispute in Karnataka’s Sindhanur
Sindhanur: A 12-year-old boy was killed and his mother seriously injured after a man allegedly attacked his elder brother’s family with a knife over a property dispute in Alabanur village of Sindhanur taluk on Wednesday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Nagaraj Siddappa Alvi (12). Amrutha Siddappa (42) sustained serious injuries in the attack. Police said the accused is Basavaraj Rudrappa Alvi, the younger brother of the victim boy’s father.
According to preliminary information, Basavaraj had arrived in Alabanur village on Tuesday and was staying at his mother’s house.
On Wednesday morning, he allegedly went to the house of his brother Siddappa carrying a knife. At the time, Siddappa’s wife Amrutha and children Nagaraj and Dhanush were present in the house.
Police said the accused allegedly attacked them with the knife. Nagaraj died in the incident, while Amrutha and Dhanush suffered serious injuries.
The injured were shifted to the government hospital in the city for treatment.
Deputy Superintendent of Police G. Chandrashekhar visited the spot and gathered information.
Sources said Chinnamma Rudrappa of Alabanur village has two sons Siddappa, who lives in Alabanur, and Basavaraj, who resides in Alliganur village of Siruguppa taluk.
Police suspect the long-standing property dispute between the two brothers led to the fatal attack.
