IEP Chandigarh, July 18
Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has decided to increase the pension of freedom fighters from Rs 9400 per month to Rs 11000 per month. He said that this decision will be effective from August 1, 2023. Disclosing this in a statement issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that approving the proposal received from the Freedom Fighters Welfare Department in this regard, the Finance Department has approved the annual budget required for the same. He said that this decision will directly benefit 545 beneficiaries, including freedom fighters themselves, widows of deceased freedom fighters or their unmarried and unemployed daughters and sons. The Finance Minister said that as per the decision taken by the Finance Department in March 2020 following the recommendation of the concerned administrative department, it was decided to increase the amount of this pension from Rs 7500 to Rs. 9400 from 1st April, 2021. He said that now in the wake of increased inflation, the decision has been taken to increase it further to Rs 11000 per month. Finance Minister Cheema said that we are proud of our freedom fighters due to whom the Punjabis are prominently mentioned among those who contributed maximum in the freedom struggle of India. He said that although we cannot payback for the sacrifices made by those patriots, the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to honouring them.
