Pune, 4th December 2024: The state government has initiated the disbursement of pensions for citizens who were imprisoned during the Emergency period of 1975-77.
The process has begun following the end of Model Code of Conduct for the assembly elections. The government has allocated a total of ₹9.75 crore for pensions from October to December, which has been distributed among the district collectors.
Pune district has received ₹1.47 crore, and the process of transferring the amount to the beneficiaries' bank accounts will commence shortly.
For the financial year 2024-25, the state has approved an allocation of ₹50.63 crore for this pension scheme. Of this, ₹9.75 crore has been allocated for the three-month period from October to December, with Pune district receiving ₹1.47 crore.
There are 586 beneficiaries in Pune district who will receive monthly pensions of ₹2,500, ₹5,000, and ₹10,000, depending on the length of their imprisonment during the Emergency. A total of ₹49.25 lakh has been allocated for these beneficiaries.
This scheme was initially proposed in January 2018 during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, after the Maha Vikas Aghadi government came into power, the scheme was discontinued on July 31, 2020, due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the change in government, then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis decided to reinstate the pension scheme for those who had suffered imprisonment during the Emergency. Accordingly, the funds for the October to December period have now been allocated.
Individuals who were imprisoned for more than a month during the Emergency will receive a monthly pension of ₹10,000, while their spouse will receive ₹5,000. Those imprisoned for less than a month will receive ₹5,000, and their spouse will receive ₹2,500.
