NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry has notified an increase in the basic monthly pensions of freedom fighters and dependents of deceased freedom fighters under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme 1980 at the rate of Rs. 2,330 per month with retrospective effect from October 2, 2006.

According to the notification issued on December 4, the basic monthly pension of former political prisoners of Andaman will increase from Rs.5,000 per month to Rs. 7,330; of freedom fighters who suffered outside British India (other than INA) it will increase from Rs.4,500 to Rs.6,830; and for other freedom fighters from Rs.4,000 to Rs.6,330.

Spouses of deceased freedom fighters would also benefit from the increases, the notification said.

No change for other dependents

However, there would be no changes in the basic monthly dependent family pensions of other eligible dependents — unmarried and unemployed dependent daughters, mother and father — of deceased freedom fighters, the notification stated. Other terms and conditions of the sanctions would remain unaltered, it added.

Copies of the notification have been sent to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, Chief Secretaries of all State Governments and other government departments for implementation.

The Ministry also notified an increase in the dearness allowance paid to freedom fighters and dependents of deceased freedom fighters on their basic monthly pensions from the current rate of 50 per cent to 58 per cent with effect from August 1, 2006.

With the dearness allowance added to the basic monthly pensions, the total monthly pension of former Andaman political prisoners would be Rs.11,581 per month; freedom fighters who suffered outside British India (other than INA) would be getting Rs.10,791 and other freedom fighters would receive a pension of Rs.10,0001, the notification stated.

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