Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)

The Union Government introduced the “Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme” in 1972 for freedom fighters and their dependents who need financial assistance. In 1980, the government liberalized the scheme to grant monthly pensions to all freedom fighters. Recently, Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is extended up to FY 2025-26. The scheme provides a Dearness Allowance of 36% of monthly pension income since July 2022.

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Disclaimer: ##Rs 60,000 are the monthly pension amounts at the assumed rate of return of 8% p.a. and 4% p.a. for unit linked insurance plans. This is an illustrative example and the returns are not guaranteed & dependent on the policy term and premium term availed along with the other variable factors. The market linked return of 60K per month is for an 18 year old investing 6k per month for 20 years in a whole life policy having policy term 82 years in which Systematic partial withdrawals start at the age of 65 years at 5% rate of withdrawal per year. The investment risk in the policy is borne by the policyholder. All Plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds. *Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws. All Plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds. Disclaimer: #The investment risk in the portfolio is borne by the policyholder. Life insurance is available in this product. The maturity amount of Rs 1 Cr. is for a 30 year old healthy individual investing Rs 10,000/- per month for 30 years, with assumed rates of returns @ 8% p.a. that is not guaranteed and is not the upper or lower limits as the value of your policy depends on a number of factors including future investment performance. In Unit Linked Insurance Plans, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder and the returns are not guaranteed. Maturity Value: ₹1,05,02,174 @ CAGR 8%; ₹50,45,591 @ CAGR 4%. *Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws. All plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds.

What is Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)?

Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is a monthly pension scheme that offers financial net and social security to Indian freedom fighters, their wards, or dependent family. The scheme helps the freedom fighters to become self-dependent and lead a respectable life.

Timeline of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana Scheme (SSSY):

A quick overview of the timeline of the freedom fighter pension scheme is as follows:

1972: In the 25th Year of India’s Independence, the Government of India Introduced a central pension scheme only for needy freedom fighters and their dependents.

1980: Renamed it to “Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme”, extended the pension scheme for all freedom fighters

2017: Decided to continue the scheme even after the end of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (12th FYP), renamed it as “Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)”

2021: Extended the scheme up to 2025-26

2022: Increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) from 32% to 36% of monthly pension income from 1 July 2022

Features of SSSY

The Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana honours the contribution of the freedom fighters/ martyrs of the Indian Freedom Struggle. 

Let us have a look at the features of the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana in the table below:

Features Details
Implemented By Ministry of Home Affairs (Government of India)
Beneficiaries
  • Living freedom fighters
  • Dependents of the martyr freedom fighter:
  • Widow/ widower
  • Unmarried daughter (maximum 3 daughters)
  • Mother
  • Father
Pension Amount
  • For Freedom Fighter/ Spouse: Rs. 35,360- Rs. 40,800
  • For Dependent Unmarried Daughters/ Parents: 50% of the pension amount to the freedom fighter
Pension Duration
  • The lifetime of the freedom fighters
  • Conditions for eligible dependents
  • Till the widow/widower gets re-married
  • Till the daughter gets married
  • Till the dependent parent is alive
Tax Benefits
  • The pension amount is tax-free

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Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Amount

The Government of India revises the monthly pension amount payable under the SSSY scheme periodically. In April 2022, the government increased the DA from 32% to 36% of the Basic Pension Amount (w.e.f. 01/07/2022).

The updated pension provided to various categories of freedom fighters and their dependents is tabulated below:

Freedom Fighters Category Monthly Basic Sum of Pension Dearness Allowance (36% of the Basic Amount per month from 01/07/2022) Total Pension Amount with Dearness Allowance
(monthly)*
Ex-Political Prisoners/ Spouses form Andaman Rs. 30,000 Rs. 10,800 Rs. 40,800
Freedom Fighters who fought outside British Indian Territory/ Spouses Rs. 28,000 Rs. 10,080 Rs. 38,080
Other Freedom Fighters/ Spouses (includes INA) Rs. 26,000 Rs. 9,360 Rs. 35,360
Dependent Unmarried Daughters (3 daughters maximum) / Parents 50% of Basic Sum provided to the freedom fighters
i.e. Between Rs. 13,000- Rs. 15,000
50% of DA provided to the freedom fighters
i.e. Between Rs. 4,680- Rs. 5,400
50% of Total Pension provided to the freedom fighters
i.e. Between Rs. 17,680- Rs. 20,400

*As per the policy guidelines, the Central Samman Pension is not applicable for TDS taxation.

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Eligibility Criteria of SSSY

Let us have a look at the categories of freedom fighters and documents required to check the eligibility to get the Central Samman Pension:

Category of Pensioner Details Documents Required
Dependents of the Martyr Martyr: a person who died during participation in the Indian freedom struggle
  • Relevant proof from office records
  • Newspaper reports of the relevant time
Imprisonment
  • For Women or SC/STs: imprisoned for a minimum of 3 months
  • For others: imprisoned for a minimum of 6 months
Imprisonment/ detention accounts from the relevant officers or jail authority
Underground during Freedom Struggle
  • Went underground for 6 months or more
  • He must be a proclaimed offender/ had an order of arrest/ had a detention order issued in his name
  • Documented official evidence
  • Non-availability of a Record Certificate (NARC) from the concerned authority and a Personal Knowledge Certificate (PKC) from a prominent freedom fighter 
Damage to Property If the property was damaged, confiscated, or sold because of participation in the freedom struggle and never got restored Confiscation/ sale of property orders
Permanent Handicap/ Incapacitation If the person is permanently incapacitated or handicapped due to a lathi charge or bullet injury
  • Certificate of incapacitation from District Magistrate 
  • Medical Certificate issued by a Civil Surgeon
Loss of Employment under Government
  • The person lost his government job due to participation in the national struggle for freedom and did not get reinstated before 2 years of dismissal/ removal from the job
  • The person should not receive any pay/ allowance benefits during this period
Orders of dismissal/ removal from employment
Punishment by Whipping If the person was punished with 10 strokes of whipping/ flogging/ caning due to participation Official records or orders from the competent authority 

List of Dependents Eligible for Samman Pension

If the freedom fighter is not alive, the government grants a pension to their dependents in an order of preference. Only one dependent is applicable for the pension at a time.

The dependents who are eligible to get Central Samman Pension are listed in sequence of priority:

  • Widow/widower

  • Unmarried daughters (maximum 3 daughters)

  • Mother

  • Father

Note: On the demise of the freedom fighter, his dependents will not get the pension automatically. They will have to apply again to the scheme with a fresh application and proof of death of the pensioner.

Facilities Offered to Central Samman Pensioners

Here is a list of various facilities offered to the Central Samman Pensioners:

  • Free Railway Pass for Lifetime: To freedom fighters/spouses along with one companion

  • Free Medical Facilities under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS): Free medical treatment to freedom fighters and their dependents in government-empanelled hospitals or hospitals run by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

  • Telephone Connection: Subjected to feasibility, a landline telephone connection is provided without any installation charges, with payment of half of the rental amount.

  • 4% Reservation for Allotment of Petrol Pumps/ Gas Agencies: Reservation is provided by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies under the “Combined Category” for Physically Handicapped (PH), Outstanding Sportsperson (OSP), and Freedom Fighters (FF).

  • General Pool Residential Accommodation in Delhi: It offers accommodation to the freedom fighters within the Discretionary Quota of 5%. The spouse can retain the accommodation up to 6 months after the demise of the freedom fighter.

  • Freedom Fighters’ Old Age Home: The freedom fighters are also offered a fully furnished, old-age home in New Delhi. The Samman Pensioners can also avail of transit accommodation (stay plus meals) in these facilities.

  • Free Air Travel Facility to ex-Andaman Freedom Fighters/ Spouses: The Samman Pensioners (along with a companion) can access a free air travel facility once a year, to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

How to Apply for SSSY?

The process of applying for the Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme is as follows:

Step 1: Visit the Freedom Fighters Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs and attain the application form for “Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana”.

Step 2: Fill in 2 copies of the application form with all the relevant details.

Step 3: Send a copy of your filled application to the Chief Secretary of the concerned State Government/ Union Territory (UT).

Step 4: Send a second copy to the Deputy Secretary, Freedom Fighters Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (Government of India), 1st Floor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi.

Step 5: The State Government/ Union Territory administration with State Advisory Committee scrutinises the application.

Step 6: Once verified, the State/ UT Government sends Entitlement to Pension Report to the Central Government, which scrutinizes the claim for eligibility.

Step 7: Upon verification and approval, the Home Affairs Ministry issues formal sanction order to the Pay & Accounts Office.

How SSSY is Granted To Freedom Fighters?

Let us understand the way a grant of pension is issued to the freedom fighter by the Central Government:

Step 1: Ministry of Home Affairs sends an approval order along with the requisite documents of the applicant to its Pay & Accounts Office.

Step 2: The Pay and Accounts Division issues a Pension Payment Order (PPO) to the Samman Pensioner.

Step 3: The Samman Pensioner approaches the concerned Public Sector bank with their PPO and draws their pension amount.

Benefits of SSSY

The Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana offers the following benefits to Indian freedom fighters:

  • Regular Monthly Income: The scheme provides regular monthly Central Samman Pension to the freedom fighters and their eligible dependents of family.

  • Financial Support to the Dependents: It has the provision to provide the monthly income to the spouse, daughters, or parents of the freedom fighters.

  • Self-Dependent Life: The SSSY scheme helps the Central Samman Pensioners to live an honourable, self-dependent life with improved standards of living.

  • Honouring the Contribution of Freedom Fighters: Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana is a token of respect, honouring the sacrifices of freedom fighters during the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Final Words

The government is continuing the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) as a tribute to our freedom fighters who made their contributions to the independence of India. The scheme is a token of respect to commemorate the glory of our freedom fighters and the great sacrifices made by them.

FAQ's

  • How much is a freedom fighter's pension?

    The Swatantrata Sainik/ Spouse eligible under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) gets a monthly pension between Rs. 35,360- Rs. 40,800. The eligible dependents get 50% of the monthly pension provided to the freedom fighter.
  • Is a freedom fighter's pension taxable?

    No, the monthly pension paid to Central Samman Pensioners under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) is not taxable under the IT Act, 1961.
  • What is the budget of the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana?

    In 2021, the Government of India allotted INR 3,274.87 crores to the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) up to the FY 2025-26.
  • Which Union Ministry implements Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)?

    The Home Affairs Ministry of India is the central authority to implement the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana.

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^The tax benefits under Section 80C allow a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakhs from the taxable income per year and 10(10D) tax benefits are for investments made up to ₹2.5 Lakhs/ year for policies bought after 1 Feb 2021. Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws.
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^^The information relating to mutual funds presented in this article is for educational purpose only and is not meant for sale. Investment is subject to market risks and the risk is borne by the investor. Please consult your financial advisor before planning your investments.

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