Ambala: An RTI query has brought out that “ineligible persons” are being awarded freedom fighter pension in Haryana.
Tarlochan Singh, Ambala-based RTI activist and son of a freedom fighter, said that after reading a statement by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda that Rs 100 crore had been disbursed as freedom fighter pension in eight years, he sought information under the RTI Act.
“After much dilly-dallying, the government furnished details that pointed to discrepancies,” he claimed. He has a received a list of freedom fighters who were granted the status from 1991 to 2009.
He claimed the Centre had last accepted applications for the freedom fighter status in 1972.
Then, only 1,688 people from the state were found eligible. Haryana, however, of its own started granting the status of freedom fighter in 1980 under the Bhajan Lal government.
“The applications were accepted till March 31, 1982, but Haryana went on to grant the freedom fighter status till February 2009 — 27 years after the last date to submit the applications had passed,” the RTI activist said.
“The number of freedom fighters in the state went up to 3,300,” Singh claimed.
Singh said the Centre paid monthly pension of Rs 18,000, while the state was paying Rs 25,000. Those having undergone six-month imprisonment during the freedom struggle were considered eligible by the Centre, while Haryana granted the status to those having undergone two-month imprisonment.
There has been no separate fund to pay pension and the entire amount is allegedly “siphoned off” from the Worker’s Relief Fund, sanctioned by the Centre for giving financial assistance to those in need.
The RTI activist said there was foul play in granting pension as those having political links were made beneficiaries. “I have filed a complaint at the CM Window, demanding an investigation,” he said, adding funds meant for the poor were being used to give pension.
Tarlochan Singh, Ambala-based RTI activist and son of a freedom fighter, said that after reading a statement by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda that Rs 100 crore had been disbursed as freedom fighter pension in eight years, he sought information under the RTI Act.
“After much dilly-dallying, the government furnished details that pointed to discrepancies,” he claimed. He has a received a list of freedom fighters who were granted the status from 1991 to 2009.
He claimed the Centre had last accepted applications for the freedom fighter status in 1972.
Then, only 1,688 people from the state were found eligible. Haryana, however, of its own started granting the status of freedom fighter in 1980 under the Bhajan Lal government.
“The applications were accepted till March 31, 1982, but Haryana went on to grant the freedom fighter status till February 2009 — 27 years after the last date to submit the applications had passed,” the RTI activist said.
“The number of freedom fighters in the state went up to 3,300,” Singh claimed.
Singh said the Centre paid monthly pension of Rs 18,000, while the state was paying Rs 25,000. Those having undergone six-month imprisonment during the freedom struggle were considered eligible by the Centre, while Haryana granted the status to those having undergone two-month imprisonment.
The RTI activist said there was foul play in granting pension as those having political links were made beneficiaries. “I have filed a complaint at the CM Window, demanding an investigation,” he said, adding funds meant for the poor were being used to give pension.
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