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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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
