Bihar Government Doubles Pension for JP Senanis | 14 Aug 2025
Why in News?
The Bihar government has announced an increase in the pension for Jayaprakash (JP) Movement fighters (JP Senanis), who were imprisoned during the Emergency (1975-77) for supporting socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement (1974).
- CM Nitish Kumar emphasized that the initiative was taken to honor the contributions of these fighters and their role in Bihar’s development.
Note: 5th June 2025 marks the 51st anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan's call for Sampoorna Kranti (Total Revolution), also known as the JP Movement, which was launched on 5th June 1974 by Jayaprakash Narayan at Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
Key Points
- Pension Increase: Fighters who were imprisoned for more than six months will now receive a pension of ₹30,000 per month, up from ₹15,000.
- Those who were jailed for up to six months will see their pension increase from ₹7,500 to ₹15,000 per month.
- In the event of the pensioner’s death, their surviving spouse will also receive the same pension amount.
Key Points About JP Senani Samman Pension Scheme
- Scheme: This adjustment falls under the "JP Senani Samman Pension Scheme", which was initiated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2009.
- The scheme is named after the iconic socialist leader, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan.
- Beneficiaries: Currently (2025), 3,354 individuals in Bihar are receiving this pension, while CM Nitish Kumar, despite being eligible, has never availed of it.
- The notable beneficiaries of the scheme are Lalu Prasad Yadav (ex-chief minister of Bihar) and Sushil Kumar Modi (former Deputy CM of Bihar).
- Eligibility Conditions:
- Period of Participation: 18th March 1974- 21st March 1977.
- Beneficiaries must have been imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) or Defence of India Rules (DIR).
- Duration Categories:
- Category 1: 1 to 6 months of imprisonment.
- Category 2: Imprisonment exceeding 6 months.
- Additional Benefits: Eligible individuals receive free medical care equivalent to that provided to freedom fighters.
Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme
- The Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme was launched in 1972 as the Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme and was later renamed and liberalized in August 1980.
- Administered by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, it provides financial support to the freedom fighters who participated in India's independence struggle.
- Total Beneficiaries (Ever): 171,689 freedom fighters and their dependents.
- Current Active Pensioners (as of July 2025): 13,212 living freedom fighters.
- Widows Receiving Pension: 9,778.
- Annual Budget (2024-25): ₹600 crore.
- Coverage:
- Time Period: Freedom fighters who participated in movements between 1857 and 1947.
- Recognized Movements: Includes 40 major movements, such as the Quit India Movement, Jallianwala Bagh, and others.