Freedom Fighters and Rehabilitation Division


Freedom Fighters & Rehabilitation Division, a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs of India, manages the Swathantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme - a national pension scheme introduced in 1972 for Freedom Fighters and their dependents. The division also handles rehabilitation assistance for refugees and migrants from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. However, there was significant resistance to implementing the scheme. For example, it took 24 years of legal fighting for S. M. Shanmugam to finally receive his pension in August 2006.

Details of scheme

Definition of eligible freedom fighters

The freedom fighters pension scheme was instituted in 1972. Eligible as freedom fighters are people who;
  • had suffered an imprisonment of 6 months or more in connection with the freedom struggle.
  • remained underground for six months or more.
  • were interned in their homes or external from their district for six months or more.
  • whose property was confiscated or attached and sold due to participation in the national freedom struggle.
  • were permanently incapacitated during firing or lathi charge.
  • lost government employments due to the participation in the freedom struggle.
  • were awarded the punishment of 10 strokes of canning/flogging/whipping.

Eligible movements and mutinies for the pension

The following movements and mutinies are recognized by the central government of India for the purpose of the freedom fighters pensione scheme administered by the division:
  1. Ambala Cantonment Army Revolt
  2. Anti-Independent Travancore Movement
  3. Aranya Satyagraha of Karnataka
  4. Arya Samaj Movement in the erstwhile Hyderabad State
  5. Border Camp Cases in erstwhile Hyderabad State
  6. Chengannur Riot Case
  7. Chauri Chaura incident
  8. Dadara Nagar Haveli Movement.
  9. Ghadar Movement
  10. Goa Liberation Movement
  11. Gurdwara Reform Movement Taran Taran Morcha, Nankana Tragedy of February, The Golden Temple Ke Affairs, Guru ka Bagh Morcha, Babbar Akali Movement, Jaito Morcha, Bhai Pheru Morcha, The Sikh Conspiracy
  12. Harse Chhina Mogha Morcha
  13. Hollwell monument removal movement by Subhas Chandra Bose at Calcutta
  14. Indian Independence League
  15. Jhansi Regiment Case in Army
  16. Kadakkal Riot Case
  17. Kalipattanam Agitation
  18. Kallara-Pangode Struggle
  19. Karivelloor Movement
  20. Kauvambai Movement
  21. Kayyur incident
  22. Khilafat Movement
  23. Kirti Kisan Movement
  24. Madurai Conspiracy Case
  25. Malabar Special Police Strike
  26. Merger with India movements in the former French and Portugueses possessions in India
  27. Moplah Rebellion
  28. Morazha Movement
  29. Naujawan Bharat Sabha
  30. Qissa Khwani massacre in which members of the Royal Garhwal Rifles took part
  31. Praja Mandal Movement in the erstwhile Princely States
  32. Punnapra-Vayalar uprising
  33. Quit India Movement
  34. Rani Jhansi Regiment and Azad Hind Fauj
  35. Read Leaf Conspiracy Case
  36. Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, 1946
  37. Suez Canal Army Revolt in 1943
  38. Vattiyoorkavu Conference