Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana – Eligibility, Distribution and Details of Beneficiaries for Freedom Fighters and Dependents

 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 254

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025/ ASHADHA 13, 1947 (SAKA)

SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN YOJANA

254. SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the details and total number of freedom fighters who have received a Central pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) till date, State-wise data;

(b) the number of these pensioners who are still alive and their distribution, State-wise;

(c) the number of widows of freedom fighters who are currently receiving a family pension and the number who are still alive, State-wise;

(d) the eligibility criteria for a family pension under this scheme and the eligibility criteria for the dependents;

(e) the total amount of funds allocated and disbursed for the scheme during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise; and

(f) whether there is a central repository where details of all freedom fighters and their contributions can be accessed by the public, if not, the reasons for not creating such a database?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)

(a): There are 171689 Freedom Fighters who received a Central pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) till date, state-wise data is enclosed at Annexure-I.

(b): There are 13212 pensioners who are still alive and receiving SSSY Samman pension. State-wise data is given at Annexure-II;

(c): There are 9778 widows (spouse) who are still alive and are receiving SSSY Samman pension. State-wise data is given at Annexure- III.

(d): The eligibility criteria for a family pension and for the dependents under this scheme is given at Annexure –IV.

(e): The total funds allotted and disbursed for the scheme during the last five years is as under :

S.No.	Year	Budget allotted (in crore)	Fund Disbursed (in crore)
1	2020-21	Rs.760	660.14
2	2021-22	Rs.717	717
3	2022-23	Rs.650	599.29
4	2023-24	Rs.589	539.67
5	2024-25	Rs.600	599.29

However, State-wise disbursement of fund on account of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is not maintained by this Ministry.

(f): Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi which is an autonomous body of M/o Human Resource Development, Govt. of India maintain the list of freedom fighters/martyrs of India freedom struggle under a project entitled “Dictionary of Martyrs : Indian Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)”.