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The Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is a scheme that gives a monthly pension amount to honour the contribution of freedom fighters. The scheme also includes provisions for providing monthly income to the dependents, including spouses, daughters, or parents of freedom fighters.
The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY), benefiting a total of 23,566 recipients nationwide. The scheme is somewhat similar to a retirement plan, and its primary objective is to offer support and appreciation to the freedom fighters of India.
Let us find out in detail about the SSSY scheme.
Table of Content
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What is the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana? -
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Highlights of the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana -
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Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Amount -
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Eligibility Criteria for Samman Pension -
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Documents Required for the Samman Pension Application -
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Who Qualifies as Dependents for SSSY?
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Additional Benefits Under the SSSY Scheme -
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How to Apply for SSSY? -
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How is SSSY Offered to Freedom Fighters? -
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Final Words -
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana?
The Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is a scheme that grants a monthly Samman Pension to honour the contribution of freedom fighters in the national freedom struggle.
Upon their passing, eligible dependents, including spouses, unmarried daughters, and parents, receive the pension according to specified eligibility criteria and procedures.
Highlights of the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana
Particulars |
Details |
Launched by |
Government of India - The Ministry of Home Affairs |
Eligible Beneficiaries of the Scheme |
|
Amount of Pension Offered |
|
Duration of Pension |
|
Tax* Benefits |
The recipient is eligible for tax benefits since the pension received by freedom fighters is exempt from taxation. |
Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Amount
The Freedom Fighter pension department initially set a monthly pension of ₹200. The pension amount undergoes periodic reviews. The currently applicable freedom fighter pension amounts are detailed in the table below:
Category of Freedom Fighter |
Basic Monthly Pension Amount |
Dearness Allowance (DA) (36% of the Basic Amount per month starting from 01/07/22) |
Total Amount of Pension with Dearness Allowance (Per Month) |
Ex-Political Prisoners and Spouses from Cellular Jail or ‘Kala Pani’ in Andaman |
₹30,000 |
₹10,800 |
₹40,800 |
Individuals who fought outside British Indian Territory and their Spouses |
₹28,000 |
₹10,080 |
₹38,080 |
Other Freedom Fighters and Spouses (including those who were with the Indian National Army) |
₹26,000 |
₹9,360 |
₹35,360 |
Dependent unmarried daughters and parents of freedom fighters (Note: The maximum no. of dependent beneficiary daughters is three.) |
From ₹13,000 to ₹15,000 (i.e., 50% of the basic pension amount given to the freedom fighters) |
From ₹4,680 to ₹5,400 (i.e., 50% of Dearness Allowance given to the freedom fighters) |
From ₹17,680 to ₹20,400 (i.e., 50% of the total pension given to the freedom fighters) |
Eligibility Criteria for Samman Pension
The freedom fighter must have actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle between 1942 and 1947. The following criteria qualify people for the freedom fighter pension:
The dependents of freedom fighters who lost their lives due to their participation in India's freedom struggle.
Individuals who endured at least six months of imprisonment as part of their involvement in the freedom struggle qualify for the SSSY pension.
Note that for women and SC/ST individuals, the eligibility criteria are reduced to three months.
Those who remained underground for more than six months while participating in the freedom struggle are also eligible for the Samman Pension.
Individuals whose property was damaged or sold due to their participation in the freedom struggle are eligible for this pension.
If a person became permanently handicapped due to firing or a lathi charge during the Freedom struggle, they are eligible for the SSSY scheme.
Government employees who lost their jobs as a result of their participation in the freedom struggle are eligible.
Anyone who received a punishment of 10 strokes of caning, flogging, or whipping due to their involvement in the freedom struggle is eligible to receive the Samman Pension.
Documents Required for the Samman Pension Application
To apply for the Samman Pension, the following documents must be submitted as per the pensioner category:
Category of Pensioner |
Documents Required |
Dependents of Martyrs |
|
Imprisonment |
|
People who Remained Underground |
|
Property Damage |
|
Permanently Handicapped |
|
People who Lost Their Government Job |
|
If Received Punishment |
|
Who Qualifies as Dependents for SSSY?
Here is a list of eligible dependents as per the Freedom Fighters pension department:
Widow or widower
Unmarried daughters (up to a maximum of 3)
Mother
Father
Additional Benefits Under the SSSY Scheme
Apart from the Samman pension retirement plan, freedom fighters and their dependents enjoy other privileges, including:
Free lifetime railway passes for freedom fighters, their widows/widowers, and a companion on specified train classes.
Access to C.G.H.S. facilities for medical services.
Telephone connections with reduced installation fees and half the rental cost.
Residential accommodation in the General Pool (within the 5% discretionary quota) in Delhi.
Transit accommodation for the pensioners and their dependents at the Freedom Fighters’ Home in New Delhi.
Free annual air travel for ex-Andaman freedom fighters and their widows or widowers to travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a companion.
How to Apply for SSSY?
You can follow the steps given below to apply for the SSSY scheme:
Visit the official website of the Ministry of Home Affairs and navigate to the Freedom Fighters section.
Download two copies of the 'Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana' forms and complete them with all the required information.
Send one copy of the form to the Chief Secretary of your State Government/UT.
Send the second copy to the below address:
Deputy Secretary, Freedom Fighters Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, 1st Floor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi.
The State Advisory Committee of the State Government/UT will review your application.
Once verified, the state government sends an Entitlement to Pension Report to the union government for eligibility assessment.
Upon approval, the Home Ministry issues a formal sanction order.
How is SSSY Offered to Freedom Fighters?
Here is the process of how the government disburses the pension amount to eligible recipients:
The Ministry of Home Affairs sends an approval notice, along with the required documents and the bank details of the applicant.
The Pay and Accounts Division issues a Pension Payment Order (PPO) for the pensioner.
The pensioner presents the PPO at the designated government bank to receive the pension funds.
Final Words
Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana acts as a retirement scheme that offers a monthly pension to honour the contributions of freedom fighters. You can apply for the Samman Yojana scheme by visiting the official website of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It is essential to understand that saving for your retirement is paramount, and the right retirement plan can help you invest for your future. Retirement insurance also offers additional advantages you may not be aware of, such as guaranteed1 returns benefits, regular income stream and tax benefits.
