Freedom fighters want an amendment to 1988 Rules, a scheme for scions

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Freedom Fighters' Association (ASFFA) has sought an amendment to the Assam Swatantrata Sainik Relief Rules, 1988. The Association also wants the State Government to start a scheme for the scions of freedom fighters in line with the Uttarakhand Government's Kutumb Pension Scheme.

Talking to The Sentinel, ASFFA general secretary Dwijendra Mohan Sarma said, "The state has around 131 freedom fighters alive, mostly bed-ridden. Around ten per cent of them can roam. Maybe, after around five years, the state will not have any freedom fighters left with it. The freedom fighters and their families are problem-ridden. We appeal to the State Government to solve our problems when the nation celebrates the Azadi ka Amrit Mohotsav."

Sarma said, "The government solves freedom fighters' problems under provisions of the Assam Swatantrata Sainik Relief Rules, 1988. However, the Rules are outdated. They need amendments and additions in sync with the present situation. The government honours the freedom fighters. After their death, their spouses also get a bit of honour. However, after the death of freedom fighters and their spouses, their scions go into oblivion. There are scions of freedom fighters meeting both ends meet as daily-wage earners. Recently, we went to Hojai where the Britishers had shot dead Manbor Nath, a freedom fighter. We saw the plight of his son staying in a ramshackle hutment with taal leaves as the roof. He cannot even provide us with a tool to sit on. The government can rescue the scions of such freedom fighters in the line of the Kutumb Pension Scheme under which the Uttarakhand Government pays them a pension at the rate of Rs 8,000 per month. The government should also erect houses for them under the PMAY model."

Sarma further said, "We have written a letter to the Chief Minister for a discussion on our problems. We hope the Chief Minister will call us for the discussion before August 15."

Sarma said that the State Government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had raised freedom fighters' pension from Rs 21,000 per month to Rs 36,000 per month last year. "The hike helps the freedom fighters who have to spend much on medicines."

Also read:  Narendra Modi invokes the spirit of freedom fighters for building new India

Also Watch: