(a) whether there is any proposal to provide free air travel facility
to all the surviving freedom fighters in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of the budgetary allocation and utilisation of funds
by the Ministry during the last three years; and
(d) the funds allocated and utilised on providing pension and other
amenities to freedom fighters during the said period?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO. 356 FOR 18.12.2012.
(a) & (b) : Apart from Samman Pension, various facilities have been
provided to the freedom fighters which include free railway pass (AC-II tier
in Rajdhani, Chair Car in Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains and Ist class/IInd AC
sleeper in all other trains) for the freedom fighters and the widows along
with a companion, in case of deceased freedom fighters, free medical facilities
in all Central Government hospitals and hospitals run by public sector
undertakings under the control of the Bureau of Public Enterprises;
facilities under Central Government Health Scheme to the freedom fighters
and their dependents and telephone connection without installation charges
and on payment of half the rental. In addition to these facilities, the
freedom fighters who had suffered imprisonment for a minimum period of five
years in the Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the widows
along with a companion, in case of deceased freedom fighters, are eligible
for free air travel to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands from Kolkata and back
once a year. At present, there is no proposal to provide free air travel
facility to all the freedom fighters. However, the Punjab & Haryana High
Court while disposing off the Public Interest Litigation petition in its
order dated 25.02.2011 directed the Government to consider providing free
air travel facilities to the surviving freedom fighters and their spouses.
The matter has been examined and considering the fact that at present about
49,000 freedom fighters or their eligible dependents are drawing Central
Samman Pension, providing free air travel facility will create huge additional
financial burden on the public exchequer. Therefore, the Government is not in
favour of the same.
(c): The details of total budgetary allocation and utilization of funds
in all schemes by the Ministry of Home Affairs during the last three years
is given below:-
(Rs. in crore)
Funds Budget Allocation Utilization of
2009-10 37066.61 35277.50 2010-11 34949.55 39435.03 2011-12 46715.24 44342.58
(Rs. in crore)
Years Budget Allocation Utilization Central Free Railway Central Free Railway Samman Passes Samman Passes Pension Pension
2009-10 664.00 35.00 825.00 34.98 2010-11 722.29 35.00 710.81 30.28 2011-12 717.08 35.00 821.03 21.85