Odisha govt increases pension of freedom fighters

Odisha government today decided to enhance the state pension for freedom fighters, official sources said.
A proposal in this regard was approved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who directed the finance department to implement the new pension from April 2017.
According to the decision, the pension of jailed freedom fighters, who also received central pension, will get Rs 10,000 per month from earlier pension of Rs 6,000.
The freedom fighters who were not jailed and took part in 'Goa Mukti Andolan', will also get enhanced pension. They will get Rs 9,000 instead of Rs 5,000, a release issued by the chief minister's office said.

Patnaik also decided to agument the State Token pension amount from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000. The state government had for the last time increased the pension amount for freedom fighters in 2013.
The state govenrment's action in this regard came barely few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated family members of 16 freedom fighters.