Rs 705.45 crore paid as pension to freedom fighters: Government

NEW DELHI: A total of Rs 705.45 crore has been paid as pension to freedom fighters and their dependent family members this fiscal till January 2015, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said during 2013-14, Rs 826.11 crore has been paid to freedom fighters and their eligible dependents along with other facilities under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme.

As on January 1, 2015, there are 11,434 freedom fighter pensioners and 24,466 dependent family pensions in the country, he said in reply to written question.

Rijiju said of the total, 2,519 freedom fighter pensioners belong to Telangana, 1,494 belong to Maharashtra, 1,436 live in Bihar and 1,294 live in West Bengal.

Among the dependent family pensioners, the highest 4,316 belong to West Bengal, 3,313 belong to Telangana, 2,638 live in Maharashtra and 2366 in Bihar.