Latest news with #IndianFreedomStruggle
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
13,212 freedom fighters still alive, getting pension: Govt to Parliament
New Delhi, A total of 13,212 freedom fighters are still alive and receiving pension from the government, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. 13,212 freedom fighters still alive, getting pension: Govt to Parliament There are also 9,778 widows of freedom fighters who receive pension under the Centre's Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana , 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 till date. There are 13,212 pensioners who are still alive and receiving SSSY Samman pension. There are 9,778 widows 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 ₹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 , Maharashtra , Bihar and Tamil Nadu . Most of the 9,778 widows of freedom fighters are based in Telangana , followed by Maharashtra , West Bengal and Bihar . 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 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 ". 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. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
LDF will return to power in Kerala, says D. Raja
Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja has expressed confidence that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will retain power in Kerala in the upcoming Assembly elections, stating that the people of the State will once again stand by progressive and secular governance. He was addressing the valedictory session of the CPI's birth centenary celebrations in Thrissur on Friday. Challenging the ideological foundation of the ruling BJP and its parent organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mr. Raja said: 'I dare the RSS to show evidence of its role in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Those who had no part in India's Independence are now ruling the country. Just as India once rose in unison to defeat British Raj, it should now unite to resist the authoritarianism of the RSS and the Modi Raj.' Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Mr. Raja noted that the CPI was among the first to condemn the incident. 'Yet while the sovereignty of our nation is under threat, the Prime Minister remains silent, even as the U.S. President claims credit for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Mr. Modi is silent, obsessed only with winning elections and holding on to power, even if it means dismantling the very foundations of the Republic,' Mr. Raja alleged. He praised Kerala for setting an example to the rest of India by defending democracy and federalism. 'It was the communist movement in Kerala that broke the monopoly of single-party rule in India. At a time when communal and fascist forces are trying to divide the country, it is the youth who must rise with the spirit of 'Inquilab Zindabad' to defend the Constitution,' he said. Before delivering his speech, Mr. Raja was greeted by a parade of over a hundred youth volunteers from the Red Volunteers Army. The event was presided over by Revenue Minister K. Rajan. Many CPI leaders took part.
