FINANCE DEPARTMENT

POLICY NOTE

DEMAND No.50

PENSION AND OTHER

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

2013-2014

O. PANNEERSELVAM
Minister for Finance

©
Government of Tamil Nadu
2013
 DEMAND No.50
PENSION AND OTHER
RETIREMENT BENEFITS

POLICY NOTE FOR 2013-2014

After the assumption of office under the
dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister during
the last 2 years various schemes with vision have
been implemented to pensioners. There are about
7,01,444 pensioners and Family Pensioners in
Tamil Nadu as on 31.12.2012. Government have
established the Directorate of Pension with effect
from 1.9.94 to redress the grievance of the
Pensioners / Family Pensioners and with a view to
ensure full settlement of pension / terminal benefits.

2. This Government, under the leadership of

the Hon’ble Chief Minister has taken various steps
in the interest of the Pensioners. The important
among them is the proposal to launch a separate
Insurance Scheme in line with Government
servants Health Insurance Scheme. Apart from
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this, the quantum of the amount payable under the

Pensioners Family Security Fund Scheme has
been enhanced from `.25,000/- to ` 35,000/- with
effect from 1.6.2012. The Government has now
decided to enhance the quantum from ` 35,000/- to
` 50,000/-. Festival Advance to pensioners has
also been enhanced to ` 2000/-.

3. The details of pensioners and family

pensioners in the State are given below:

Drawing through

Public Sector Total

Treasuries
Banks
1. State Civil
3,33,927 50,025 3,83,952
Pensioners
2. Teacher
67,118 13,355 80,473
Pensioners
3. Civil Family
Pensioners
1,55,223 10,341 1,65,564

4. Teacher
Family 29,414 1,579 30,993
Pensioners
5. Other category
Pensioners
36,269 4,193 40,462

Total 6,21,951 79,493 7,01,444

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4. Major component of the expenditure under

this demand relates to pension and pensionary
benefits of Government employees and teaching
and non-teaching staff in aided educational
institutions. This demand also covers the activities
of Directorate of Pension and the expenditure on
pension and other benefits granted to freedom
fighters and Ex-INA personnel.

5. Under this Demand in the Budget Estimate

2013-2014, a sum of ` 16,618.18 Crore has been
provided for Pension and other Retirement
Benefits and ` 27.18 Crore for Social Security and
Welfare, totaling to ` 16,645.36 Crore.

6. PENSION
(i) A minimum qualifying service of 10 years is
necessary for eligibility for Pension. The
Government has reduced the qualifying
service from 33 years to 30 years to become
eligible for full Pension. Further, Pension is
being determined based on 50% of pay last
 4

drawn or 50% of average emoluments drawn

during the last 10 months of service
rendered whichever is higher.

(ii) A pensioner is entitled for a minimum

pension of ` 3,050/- per month with effect
from 1.1.2006.

7. GRATUITY
(i) Service Gratuity :

Service gratuity is admissible for those who

have put in less than 10 years of qualifying service.
It is calculated at the uniform rate of half a month’s
emoluments for every completed six monthly period
of service. This is a one time lumpsum payment for
the service rendered in addition to the retirement
gratuity admissible.

(ii) Death Gratuity :

In the event of death in harness, death

gratuity is admissible at the following rates:-
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Length of Service Rate of Gratuity

1. Less than one year Two times monthly

emoluments

2. One year or more Six times of monthly

but less than five emoluments
years

3. Five years or more Twelve times of monthly

but less than emoluments
twenty years

4. Twenty years or Half of monthly emoluments

more for every completed six
monthly period of qualifying
service subject to a maximum
of 33 times of monthly
emoluments provided that the
amount of Death Gratuity in
no case exceeds ` 10 lakh
with effect from 1.1.2006.

iii) Retirement Gratuity :

One who has completed five years of

qualifying service and above is granted retirement
gratuity on his/her retirement at the rate of 1/4th of
emoluments for each completed six monthly period
of qualifying service subject to a maximum of 161/2
times of monthly emoluments. The maximum
 6

ceiling limit of retirement gratuity is ` 10 lakh with

effect from 1.1.2006. In respect of employees
retiring on or after 1.4.1998, gratuity is calculated
based on pay and dearness allowance last drawn.
With effect from 1.1.2006, basic pay includes grade
pay also for this purpose.

8. FAMILY PENSION
The family of a Government employee is
eligible for family pension in the event of his/her
death either in service or after retirement. In the
case of death while in service, one year of
continuous service in a pensionable post at any
time during his/her service is required to become
eligible for family pension. In cases of death while
in service the enhanced family pension is payable
at the rate of 50% of the pay last drawn for a period
of 7 years after death. After this the family pension
is regulated at 30% of the pay last drawn. Family
pension is also allowed to the family of Government
employees who die in harness before completion of
one year continuous service provided that the
 7

deceased Government servant concerned

immediately prior to his/her appointment to the
service or post was examined by a medical
authority and declared fit for Government service.
In the case of death after retirement, one should be
a pensioner at the time of death for the family to
become eligible for family pension.

Family pension is payable to the widow/

widower till her/his remarriage or death whichever
is earlier. After her / his death, it is payable to the
children upto the age of 25 years or till their
marriage whichever is earlier. However, if the son /
unmarried daughter is suffering from any disorder
or disability of mind or physically crippled or
disabled so as to render him/her unable to earn a
livelihood the family pension shall be payable to
such son/daughter for his/her life time even after
attaining the age of 25 years. The Government has
also issued orders for the payment of life time
family pension of ` 3,050/- along with Medical
Allowance to the unmarried / divorced/ widowed
 8

daughters of pensioners of this State with effect

from 28.11.2011 subject to fulfilment of certain
conditions.

The minimum family pension payable is

` 3,050/- per month with effect from 1.1.2006.

9. EX-GRATIA PAYMENT

Government has issued orders enhancing

ex-gratia payment from ` 150/- per month to ` 605/-
per month with Dearness Allowance of ` 31/- with
effect from 1st November 1997 to the families of
deceased Contributory Provident Fund / Non-
Pensionable establishment beneficiaries of State
Government and the employees of former District
Board who had retired / died in harness prior to 1st
January 1986 and who are not eligible for family
pension. They are also eligible for the increase in
Dearness Allowance sanctioned by the
Government from 1st January 1998 onwards.
 9

10. COMMUTATION OF PENSION

Pensioners are eligible to commute a portion
of pension upto 331/3% of pension and receive a
lumpsum payment. This commutation of pension is
authorised by the Accountant-General without
medical examination if they apply for the same
within one year from the date of issue of Pension
Payment Order. This concession has been
extended in the case of voluntary retirement also.
The Government has also allowed restoration of the
commuted portion of pension after 15 years from
the date of retirement in cases where commutation
of pension is simultaneous with retirement or 15
years from the date of commutation where
commutation of pension is done in the second or
subsequent months of retirement.

11. OTHER RETIREMENT BENEFITS

i) Encashment of earned leave at credit at

the time of retirement upto a maximum
of 240 days is allowed.
 10

ii) Encashment of the unearned leave on

private affairs standing to their credit at
the time of retirement upto a maximum
of 180 days which shall be converted to
90 days for full salary is also allowed.

iii) Pay, Grade Pay, Dearness Allowance,

House Rent Allowance, City
Compensatory Allowance are allowed for
the entire portion of earned leave and
unearned leave on private affairs.

iv) Transfer Traveling Allowance is allowed

for going to native place or to the place
wherever retired employee wishes to
settle down after retirement.

12. OTHER BENEFITS TO PENSIONERS

A. Dearness Allowance:
i) The pensioners / family pensioners are
paid Dearness Allowance on par with the
serving employees of the Government.
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ii) Military pensioners who are in receipt of

State Pension are allowed to draw
Dearness Allowance on State Pension
also in addition to Dearness Allowance
on Central Pension.

B. Medical Allowance:

The pensioners / family pensioners are

allowed medical allowance of ` 100/- per month
with effect from 1.6.2009.

Provisional Pensioners / Family Pensioners

are also allowed Dearness Allowance and Medical
Allowance.

C. Pongal Prize:

A lumpsum Pongal Prize amount of

` 500/- has been sanctioned to all pensioners
including adhoc pensioners of all categeries and
Family Pensioners of Government including All
India Services, aided educational institutions and
local bodies.
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D. Festival Advance:

Pensioners are being given festival advance

similar to Government servants. This amount has
been enhanced from ` 1000/- to ` 2000/-.

13. PENSIONERS' HEALTH FUND SCHEME

Tamil Nadu Government Pensioners’ Health

Fund Scheme is being implemented with effect
from 1.7.95 to provide financial assistance to
pensioners for undergoing specialised treatment /
surgery by constituting a fund called Tamil Nadu
Government Pensioners’ Health Fund. The
pensioner has to contribute ` 150/- per month
towards this fund. The maximum amount of
assistance under the scheme is 75% of the total
cost of treatment or ` 1,00,000/- whichever is less.
This scheme is extended to the spouse of the
pensioners also with effect from 17.2.2009 subject
to the maximum ceiling of ` 1,00,000/- for both
pensioner and spouse combined together. This
scheme has also been extended to the family
 13

pensioners at their option with effect from

September, 2009. The family pensioners opting for
the scheme has to contribute ` 100/- per month for
this fund. The Government ordered reimbursement
for specialized advanced surgery / treatments in
respect of diseases which are included in the list
approved under Tamil Nadu Government
Pensioners’ Health Fund Scheme in unaccredited
hospitals within the State also subject to certificate
issued by District Medical Officer / Director of
Medical and Rural Health Services / Director of
Medical Education. The Government has also
ordered for reimbursement for specialized/
advanced treatments which are not included in the
approved list of treatments / treatments taken in
hospitals outside the State without insisting
certificate from District Medical Officer / Director of
Medical Education. Due to this, more number of
pensioners are being benefited under Tamil Nadu
Government Pensioners’ Health Fund Scheme.
Upto 31.01.2013, 1,57,581 claims have been
settled under this Health Fund scheme and a sum
 14

of ` 323.17 Crore have been reimbursed to the

pensioners/ family pensioners. A sum of ` 25
Crore has been sanctioned by the Government
during the year 2012-2013. Thus the Government
has so far sanctioned an additional grant of
` 136.50 Crore from the date of implementation of
this scheme till 31.1.2013.

The Government is proposing to launch a

separate Health Insurance Scheme in line with the
Government servants Health Insurance Scheme to
reduce the burden of health related expenses of the
pensioners.

14. PENSIONERS' FAMILY SECURITY FUND

SCHEME
The Government is implementing the Tamil
Nadu Government Pensioners' Family Security
Fund Scheme with effect from 1.1.1997. Under the
above scheme, a contribution of ` 70/- per month
is deducted from the pension till the death of
pensioners towards the Tamil Nadu Government
 15

Pensioners' Family Security Fund and the Fund is

operated from 1.1.1998. In the case of death of a
pensioner after one month of contribution to the
fund, a sum of ` 35,000/- is paid to the family from
the fund with effect from 1.6.2012. Upto
31.12.2012 a total number of 1,19,189 families
have been benefited under this scheme and a sum
of ` 298.08 Crore have been disbursed to the
members of the family of deceased pensioners.
The Government has now decided to
enhance the quantum of this financial assistance
given to each bereaved family from ` 35,000/- to
` 50,000/-

15. TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

SPECIAL PROVIDENT FUND CUM GRATUITY
SCHEME, 1984

This Scheme was introduced with effect from

01.04.1984. A monthly subscription of ` 20/- per
month was recovered from Government employee
for 148 months and the total subscription is being
 16

repaid along with interest accrued thereon at the

time of retirement with Government contribution of
` 10,000/-.

16. TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

SPECIAL PROVIDENT FUND CUM
GRATUITY SCHEME, 2000

This Scheme was introduced with effect from

01.10.2000.

a. All regular Government employees in service

upto 30.09.2000 may opt to subscribe ` 50/-
per month till one month prior to the date of
retirement which is refundable along with
interest accrued thereon.

b. This Scheme is compulsory to the person

appointed on or after 01.10.2000 and the
subscription will be ` 70/- per month. The
subscription is refundable with interest and
Government contribution of ` 10,000/- on the
date of retirement.
 17

The Pension Directorate is Budget Estimate

and Control Authority to the above Schemes.
Funds provided by Government in the Budget is
drawn and disbursed by departments to the retired
employees and teachers (except aided schools /
colleges / polytechnics) for settlement of payment
under the schemes.

17. PENSION TO STAFF OF AIDED EDUCATIONAL

INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING LOCAL BODIES

The Staff of aided educational institutions

and local bodies are allowed the same pensionary
benefits as available to State Government
employees.

18. ADDITIONAL PENSION / ADDITIONAL

FAMILY PENSION
The State Government Pensioners / Family
Pensioners aged 80 years and above are paid 20%
to 100% additional pension/ additional family
pension on their basic pension / basic family
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pension according to their age with effect from

01.01. 2011.
19. THE EXPENDITURE ON PENSION AND
RETIREMENT BENEFITS OVER THE PAST
YEARS HAS BEEN AS FOLLOWS:

Total Expenditure Expenditure on

Year on Pension and pension as a
other retirement percentage of total
benefits revenue receipts

(` in crore)
2001-2002 3,050.48 16.07
2002-2003 3,488.20 16.86
2003-2004 3,279.96 13.84
2004-2005 3,921.05 13.78
2005-2006 4,488.83 13.22
2006-2007 5,461.68 13.35
2007-2008 6,038.96 12.71
2008-2009 7,776.21 14.13
2009-2010 8,439.24 15.11
2010-2011 11,855.27 16.89
2011-2012 12,687.97 14.89
2012-2013 (RE) 13,720.45 13.48
2013-2014 (BE) 16,645.36 14.04
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20. CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME

New employees who have joined after
1.4.2003 are enrolled under the Contributory
Pension Scheme. A subscription at the rate of 10%
of basic pay plus dearness allowance is being
recovered from the employees who joined in
Government service after 1.4.2003 (after revision of
pay as per Revised Scales of Pay, 2009, basic pay
includes grade pay also). Under the scheme the
Government is also making an equal contribution.
Accountant General is maintaining the accounts of
the Contributory Pension Scheme.

DIRECTORATE OF PENSION
21. The retired Government employees
including teachers who have rendered pensionable
service as per Tamil Nadu Government Pension
Rules 1978 are eligible for monthly pension as fixed
upto the period of retirement and revised as per
extension of any pension benefit that may be
 20

allowed by Government from time to time as

sanctioned by Pension Sanctioning Authority and
authorised by Accountant-General as per the codal
provisions and payment of pension made through
Treasuries / Sub-Treasuries / Pension Pay Office
and Public Sector Banks. In addition to the service
pension, family pension is paid to the spouse/
eligible daughter / son of the deceased Government
employees while in service and on demise of the
pensioners.

The Government established the Directorate of

Pension, which is functioning with effect from
01.09.1994. This Directorate is now headed by a
Director who is in the rank of Joint Secretary to
Government, Finance Department. Besides the
Director, the Directorate is functioning with the
support of one Joint Director, one Deputy Director,
one Accounts Officer, one Assistant Accounts
Officer and other Ministerial and basic service staff.
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The major activities of this Directorate are as

follows:

i. Redressal of the grievances of the State

Civil and Teacher pensioners.

ii. Settlement of pensioners’ grievances

through Pensioners’ Adalat.

iii. Attending to the clarifications sought for by

the pensioners.

iv. Administering and implementing the Tamil

Nadu Government Industrial Employees
Provident Fund Scheme for Government
Departments Casual Workers.

v. Administering and implementing Tamil

Nadu Government Pensioners’ Health
Fund Scheme, 1995 for Pensioners /
Family Pensioners.

vi. Administering and implementing Tamil

Nadu Government Pensioners’ Family
 22

Security Fund Scheme, 1997 for Family

Pensioners.

vii. Budget Estimating and Controlling Authority

for Tamil Nadu Government Employees
Special Provident Fund Scheme, 1984.

viii. Budget Estimating and Controlling Authority

for Tamil Nadu Government Employees
Special Provident Fund Cum Gratuity
Scheme, 2000.

ix. Preparation of Budget Estimate of pay and

allowances and other benefits in respect of
serving employees in the Directorate of
Pension and reconciliation of departmental
accounts with Pay and Accounts Office and
Accountant-General.

x. Administering and implementing Tamil

Nadu Social Security Scheme, 1974 for
unorganized daily wages, labourers and
Public.
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REDRESSAL OF THE GRIEVANCES

Settlement of Pensioners’ Grievances in

Pension Directorate

22. The petitions received from

pensioners in various Districts, through Chief
Minister’s Special Cell and under Right to
Information Act are given due attention for
immediate settlement of pensioners’ grievances. In
2012, 620 Chief Minister’s Special Cell petitions
were received and settled. Out of the total number
of 41 petitions received in the current year upto
31.01.2013, 31 petitions were settled. 584 petitions
were received under Right to Information Act from
01.01.2012 upto 31.12.2012, out of which
information was furnished for 569 petitions. From
various Districts, during the year 2012, 2,083
pension grievances petitions were received and in
the current year upto 31.01.2013, 8 petitions were
 24

received, aggregating to 2,091 petitions, out of

which 2,076 petitions were settled.

District Collectors Pensioners’ Grievances Day

Meeting

23. The District Collectors conduct

Pensioners’ Grievances Day Meeting once in three
months in their districts. The Director or Joint
Director attends these meetings and assist in the
expeditious disposal of such grievances petition in
the Districts. The pension benefit proposals
pending with the Office of the Accountant-General
are also followed up by this Directorate to speed up
settlement. As a follow up action, the concerned
Heads of Departments are addressed in respect of
the Districts grievances petition, department-wise
meetings are conducted periodically with
departmental officials to review the progress on
settlement of these grievance petitions.
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PENSION ADALAT

24. Pension Adalat has been constituted

by the Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority at High
Court Complex, with effect from 22.02.2002. The
Government formed a Committee consisting of the
Director of Pension, officers from concerned
Departments in the Secretariat, Heads of
Departments and representative of the Accountant-
General to execute directions and follow up action
on the Pension Adalat upon settlement of
Pensioners’ grievances put before the authority.
The Director of Pension has been nominated as the
Nodal Officer for the Adalat. The Adalat meeting is
held twice every month. 47 cases have been
received during the period 01.01.2012 to
31.12.2012 out of which 32 cases have been
settled.

PENSION PAY OFFICER, LINK BANK

OFFICIALS AND PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATIONS
MEETING

25. The Director conducts monthly

meeting with Link Bank Officials, Pension Pay
 26

Officer in the presence of Pensioners’ Association

Representatives to sort out problems faced by
Pensioners in the Banks under Public Sector Bank
Scheme and Pension Pay Office under Pilot
Scheme in Chennai.

GUIDE TO PENSIONERS
26. A Guide to Pensioners showing
available retirement benefits and important pension
benefits Government Orders issued by Government
from time to time with guidelines to send pension /
family pension proposals to the pensioners has
been displayed on the website
www.tn.gov.in/dop. Pension Forms can also be
downloaded from the above Website for instant
use. This department may be contacted through
e.mail also. The e-mail address of this Directorate
is dop@tn.nic.in.

COMPUTERISATION OF PENSION DIRECTORATE

27. As per programme developed by

National Informatics Centre, the Health Fund
 27

Scheme and Family Security Fund Scheme have

been fully computerised by which necessary input
data is fed, processed and output is generated in
the form of sanction proceedings. Similarly, the
Employees Provident Fund Scheme has also been
computerised with slight modification by National
Informatics Centre. For introduction of ECS to credit
their payments under the above said Pensioners’
Welfare Schemes through Reserve Bank of India in
their respective Bank Accounts, the process for
ECS payment is underway with the assistance of
National Informatics Centre, Pension Pay Office,
Treasuries and Bank Officials by which payment
through Cheque will be dispensed and immediate
credit of payments will be ensured.

e-PENSION

28. A web-enabled software to process the

pension payment and to have a Centralized
Database of the pensioners has been initially
implemented in seven districts and Pension Pay
Office, Chennai on pilot basis and it will be rolled
 28

out in all the districts in a phased manner during the

financial year 2013-2014. Further, migration of
pension related information from Accountant
General’s database into e-pension Central Server
will also be done to ensure data accuracy and
saving of time and resources.
MUSTERING OF PENSIONERS

29. Considering the difficulties of the senior

citizens, this department is taking initiatives to
simplify the annual mustering process by
incorporating the provision of biometric
identification through Finger Print Reader with the
help of NIC. By making such facilities to be
available at the banks, the pensioners will get an
opportunity to exercise online authentication from
the nearby banks itself.

30. Apart from this, the upcoming Integrated

Finance and Human Resource Management
System will also help in creating hassle free and
user-friendly environment for the pensioners to
 29

receive all the required services from the

Government.

DIGITALIZATION OF PENSION RECORDS

31. It is being proposed to digitalize the

Pension Payment Orders of the Pensioners
attached to the Pension Pay Office, Chennai and to
link it with the web enabled e-pension software on
pilot basis in order to reap the benefits of
digitalization. Secured and sustainable storage,
easy and multiple access beyond boundaries,
retrieval of information by all end users including
the pensioners and enhanced quality of records
such as legibility, avoidance of discoloration etc.,
are the expected key benefits of digitalization.

PENSION AND OTHER BENEFITS TO FREEDOM

FIGHTERS AND EX-INA PERSONNEL

32. The Government of Tamil Nadu has

always given top priority in extending facilities to the
Freedom Fighters and their families, who had
participated in the freedom struggle of our country.
 30

The Government have introduced and are earnestly

implementing a number of Welfare Schemes such
as Freedom Fighters Pension, Family pension,
Medical facilities, Free Transport facilities, priority in
Government employment and allotment of houses
etc.,
33. The Freedom Fighters Pension
scheme was first implemented in the State with
effect from 1.10.1966. As per the above scheme,
Freedom Fighters who were sentenced to
imprisonment or held under detention for not less
than three months or who were killed in action or
who became permanently incapacitated due to
firing or lathi charge during their participation in the
National Freedom Movement are eligible to get
Freedom Fighters Pension. This scheme had been
extended to the Ex-INA personnel and persons who
participated in Naval Mutiny in 1946 and those who
suffered imprisonment in Madurai Conspiracy case.
Further such of those Freedom Fighters, who have
gone underground evading the arrest or those
whose properties were confiscated / attached or
 31

who were removed / dismissed from service due to

their participation in the freedom movement, were
also brought under the eligibility criterion to receive
Freedom Fighter Pension provided that such claims
are supported by documentary evidence through
court records or other official records. The period of
three months of imprisonment that was fixed as one
of the eligibility criteria for getting pension was
reduced to three weeks with effect from 1.4.1980.
The income ceiling fixed was also removed with
effect from 11.3.1983.

34. The pension payable to Freedom

Fighters has been enhanced from time to time. The
last enhancement came with effect from
15.08.2012.The details are indicated in Annexure I.

35. In the event of death of any State

Freedom Fighter Pensioner, the pension is paid
continuously to the wife / husband / minor children
of the Freedom Fighter as family pension. The
Government also sanction the continuance of
pension to the son/daughter of the freedom fighters
 32

who is suffering from any disorder or disability of

mind or is physically crippled or disabled so as to
render him or her unable to earn a living even after
attaining the age of 18 years in the case of the son
and 21 years in the case of the daughter till their
life. This family pension amount has been
enhanced from time to time. The details are
indicated in Annexure II.

36. The Government have been

sanctioning the special pension to the descendants
of eminent persons in recognition of their significant
role played by them in the freedom movement.
Under this scheme, the descendants of Sivagangai
Marudhu Pandiar Brothers, direct and senior
descendants of Veerapandia Kattabomman and
eligible descendants of Muthuramalinga Vijaya
Raghunatha Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram are
receiving pension @ ` 1,000/- per month, which
has been increased to ` 2,000/- per month with
effect from 14.3.2013. At present 109 descendants
of Marudhu Pandiar Brothers, 5 direct and senior
 33

descendants of Veerapandia Kattabomman, 83

eligible descendants of Muthuramalinga Vijaya
Raghunatha Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram and 1
descendant of V.O.Chidambaranar are receiving
this pension. They will receive the above pension
till their life time.

37. The other concessions granted to the

Freedom Fighters and their dependants are given
below: -

a) Medical Facilities:

Medical Allowance is paid to all pensioners

who are receiving Central Pension or State Pension
or both and to their widows and Minor children.
This amount was enhanced from ` 100/- per month
to ` 500/- per month with effect from 15.8.2012.
The above pensioners or their dependants are
permitted to avail ‘A’ class facility in old Hospitals
and ‘pay ward’ facility without payment of any
charges in new Hospitals.
 34

b) Transport facility:

The Freedom Fighters, drawing Central or

State Pension, their widows and legal heirs are
given free bus pass to travel in the buses of State
Transport Corporation.

c) Housing Facility:

Reservation of 1% has been made to the

Freedom Fighters, in the allotment of
houses/plots/flats made by the Tamil Nadu Housing
Board from out of 18% reserved for SCs/STs, out
of 5% reserved for Dhobies and Barbers and out of
37% reserved for the General Public.

d) Employment Assistance:

Priority is given for the legal heirs of

Freedom fighters when their names are sponsored
by Employment Exchanges to Government
Departments and Undertakings for filling up of
vacancies.
 35

e) Funeral Expenses:

A sum of ` 2,000/- is being sanctioned

immediately to the wife or the immediate legal heirs
of the Freedom Fighters towards funeral expenses
in the event of death of the Freedom Fighter. This
has been enhanced to ` 5,000/- with effect from
27.5.2011. As a mark of respect to the deceased
Freedom Fighter, an officer not below the rank of a
Tahsildar from the Revenue Department on behalf
of the Government will place a wreath on the body
of the deceased Freedom Fighter. It will be
applicable to those who are receiving State /
Central Freedom Fighters Pension or receiving both
pensions.

38. The number of Freedom Fighters in

Tamil Nadu, who are now drawing State Pension
under various schemes, are as follows:
 36

1 Freedom Fighters receiving State

Freedom Fighters Pension
632
(` 7,000 + ` 500/- Medical Allowance
per month)

2 Dependants receiving family Pension

(` 3,500 + ` 500/- Medical Allowance 1,830
per month)

3 Descendants of Veerapandia
5
Kattabomman (` 2,000/- per month)

4 Descendants of Sivagangai Marudhu

109
Pandiar Brothers (` 2,000/- per month)

5 Descendants of Muthuramalinga Vijaya

Raghunatha Sethupathy 83
( ` 2,000/- per month)

6 Descendant of V.O. Chidambaranar

1
(` 2,000/- per month)

39. CENTRAL PENSION SCHEME:

The Central Government have been

implementing the Scheme of Freedom Fighters
Pension (Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension)
 37

with effect from 15.08.1972. According to this

Scheme, the following concessions are granted:

i) Each recipient of Swatantrata Sainik

Samman Pension is getting ` 6,330/- as
pension along with 165% Dearness
Allowance i.e. ` 16,775/- with effect from
1.8.2012. The total number of persons who
are receiving Central Freedom Fighters
Pension / Family Pension is 2,051.

ii) State Pension of ` 500/- per month from the

State Funds is paid to those who receive
Central Freedom Fighters Pension/Central
Family Pension.

40. For the year, 2013-2014 a total sum of

` 15,96,72,000/- has been provided for the purpose
of political pension schemes mentioned above.

O. PANNEERSELVAM
Minister for Finance.
 38

ANNEXURE - I
RATE OF MONTHLY PENSION PAID BY THE
STATE GOVERNMENT TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sl. Pension
Period
No. Amount
`
1. With effect from 01-10-1966 50/-

2. With effect from 15-08-1972 75/-

3. With effect from 01-04-1979 100/-

4. With effect from 25-01-1981 150/-

5. With effect from 10-06-1986 250/-

6. With effect from 01-08-1989 350/-

7. With effect from 01-01-1991 400/-

8. With effect from 01-08-1992 1,000/-

9. With effect from 01-09-1995 1,500/-

10. With effect from 15-08-1997 3,000/-

11. With effect from 01-05-2007 4,000/-

12. With effect from 01-09-2009 5,000/-

13. With effect from 15.08.2012 7,000/-

 39

ANNEXURE - II
RATE OF MONTHLY PENSION PAID TO THE
DEPENDANTS OF STATE FREEDOM FIGHTERS
PENSIONERS
Sl. Pension
Period
No. Amount
`
1. With effect from 01-10-1966 50/-

2. With effect from 15-08-1972 75/-

3. With effect from 01-04-1979 100/-

4. With effect from 25-01-1981 150/-

5. With effect from 10-06-1986 250/-

6. With effect from 01-08-1989 350/-

7. With effect from 01-01-1991 400/-

8. With effect from 01-08-1992 500/-

9. With effect from 01-09-1995 750/-

10. With effect from 15-08-1997 1,500/-

11. With effect from 01-05-2007 2,000/-

12. With effect from 01-09-2009 2,500/-

13. With effect from 15.08.2012 3,500/-

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