The state government makes a big announcement for some people. The Odisha government announced on Monday a monthly pension of Rs 20,000 along with additional benefits for individuals who were imprisoned during the emergency period. A notification from the state home department indicated that, in addition to the pension, the government will cover the medical expenses for all those who were incarcerated during this time.
The pension and medical services are set to be available to all eligible individuals by January 1, 2025. Between June 25, 1975, and March 21, 1977, numerous individuals were detained in various jails across the nation for opposing the emergency. The pension will be granted to surviving detainees, regardless of how long they were imprisoned.
The scheme is scheduled to take effect on January 1. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi pledged on Independence Day to implement this pension initiative. This significant decision aligns Odisha with several other states, including Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Assam, which have established similar pension programs for those detained during the Emergency.
Eligibility for the emergency pension extends to anyone arrested under the Internal Security Act, Defence of India Rules (DIR), and Defence of India and Internal Security Rules during the Emergency from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977.
Sources indicate that over 300 individuals in Odisha qualify to apply, which will incur an annual cost of Rs 8 crore for the government. District-level committees led by local collectors will compile the list of eligible beneficiaries, while the health department will devise a plan for healthcare benefits. According to the Home Department’s proposal, if any beneficiary is found guilty of anti-national or criminal activities and is convicted, their benefits will be revoked.
If you engage in fraudulent activities, you could end up in prison
Individuals who exploit the system will face legal action for presenting false documents. Any funds disbursed to them will be reclaimed with an annual interest rate of 12%. Unlike many other states that vary pension amounts for inmates based on their length of stay, Odisha maintains a uniform pension amount for all prisoners, regardless of their sentence duration. For instance, Madhya Pradesh offers Rs 10,000 to inmates serving less than a month and Rs 30,000 to those incarcerated for over a month.
