Pension and Other Benefits to Freedom Fighters and Ex-Indian National Army Personnel
Pension and Family Pension
- The Welfare Schemes for the Freedom Fighters who participated and suffered untold miseries in the Freedom Movement of our country have been earnestly implemented by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Various facilities such as Pension, Family Pension, Medical Facilities, Free Transport Facilities and priority in Government Employment and Allotment of house etc., have been extended by the Government to the Freedom Fighters.
- The State Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme has been implemented with effect from 01.10.1966 by the Government of Tamil Nadu in recognition of the patriotic spirit of the Freedom Fighters The Government have considered sympathetically the pecuniary circumstances of the Freedom Fighters and hence, the quantum of the Freedom Fighters’ Pension has been enhanced reasonably from time to time. At present,
- The pension amount has been enhanced from Rs.18,000/- to Rs.20,000/- per month from 15.08.2022.
- The family pension (dependents) amount has also been enhanced from Rs.10,000/- to Rs.11,000/- per month from 15.08.2023.
Special Pension
- The Government have been sanctioning Special Pension to the descendants of eminent persons in recognition of the significant role played by them in the freedom movement.
- Special Pension has been enhanced from Rs.9,000/- to Rs.10,000/- per month with effect from 15.08.2022. At present,
- 92 descendants of Sivagangai Marudhu Pandiar Brothers are receiving this pension
- 3 descendants of Veerapandia Kattabomman are receiving this pension.
- 50 eligible descendants of Mannar Muthuramalinga Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram are receiving this pension
- 1 descendant of Freedom Fighter Sekkizhutha Chemmal V.O.Chidambaranar is also receiving this pension.
- They will continue to receive the above pension till their life time.
Other Concessions
- Medical Allowance of Rs.500/- is paid to all pensioners who are receiving Central Pension or State Pension or both, their widows and minor children receiving family pension.
- The pensioners or their dependents are permitted to avail ‘A’ class facility in Hospitals and ‘pay ward’ facility without payment in new Hospitals.
- The Freedom Fighters, drawing Central or State Pension, their widows and legal heirs are given free bus passes to travel in the buses of State Transport Corporations. Priority given in allotment of houses / plots / flats by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. The Government have provided free bus pass to the attendant to go along with the pensioners over 60 years in State Transport Buses.
- Priority is given for the legal heirs of Freedom fighters when their names are sponsored by Employment Exchanges to Government Departments and Undertakings for filling up of vacancies.
- A sum of Rs.5,000/- is being sanctioned immediately to the wife or the direct legal heirs of the Freedom Fighters towards funeral expenses in the event of death of the Freedom Fighter. As a mark of respect to the deceased Freedom Fighter, an officer not below the rank of Tahsildar from the Revenue Department on behalf of the Government will place a wreath on the body of the deceased Freedom Fighter. It is applicable to those who are receiving State / Central Freedom Fighters’ Pension or receiving both.
Details of Number of Pensioners
Sl.No. |
Pension Categories |
Number of Pensioners as on 30.4.2024 |
1. |
Freedom Fighters receiving State Pension (Rs.20,000 ) |
117 |
2. |
Dependents of Freedom Fighters receiving Family Pension (Rs.11,000 + Rs.500/- Medical Allowance per month) |
686 |
3. |
Special pension for descendants of Sivagangai Marudhu Pandiar Brothers (Rs.10,000/- per month) |
95 |
4. |
Special pension for descendants of Veerapandia Kattabomman |
1 |
5. |
Special pension for descendants of Mannar Muthuramalinga Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram (Rs.10,000/- per month) |
49 |
6. |
Special pension for descendant of Freedom Fighter Sekkizhutha Chemmal V.O.Chidambaranar (Rs.10,000/- per month) |
1 |
7. |
State Freedom Fighters receiving Pension under the Central Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme (Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana Scheme) (Pension Rs.500/- + Medical Allowance Rs.500/- per month). |
141 |
8. |
State Freedom Fighters family pensioners receiving Pension under Central Freedom Fighters Family Pension Scheme (Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana Scheme) (Pension Rs.500/- + Medical Allowance Rs.500/- per month). |
327 |
Total |
1417 |