The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2018 approved the continuation of "Swatantra Sainik Samman Yojana" (SSSY) during 2017-20 beyond the 12th Five year Plan which ended on March 31, 2017. The approval provides for a monthly Samman Pension to freedom fighters, as a token of respect for their contribution in the national freedom struggle and on their demise, to their eligible dependents viz spouses and there after, unmarried and unemployed daughters and dependent parents, as per prescribed elegibility norms and procedure.
The financial implication for continuation of SSSY during 2017-20 would be Rs 2552.93 crore. The government introduced the 'Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners Pension Scheme' in 1969 to honour the freedom fighters who had been incarcerated in the Cellular Jail at Port Blair.
At present 37,356 freedom fighters and their eligible dependent pensioners are covered under this scheme which includes 13,657 freedom fighters and 23,127 dependent spouses and 1572 daughters. The amount of pension was initially Rs. 200 per month and has been revised from time to time.
With effect from August 15, 2016 the amount of pension for all categories of pensioners has been enhanced and the Dearness Relief system based on All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers hitherto applied to freedom fighter pensioners, had been discontinued and replaced by the Dearness Allowance system applicable to Central Government employees twice a year.
