 bill no 128 of 2016 the freedom fighters and their families (welfare) bill, 2016 bydr manoj rajoria, mp a billto provide for the welfare of freedom fighters and their families and for matters connected therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-seventh year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the freedom fighters and their families (welfare) act,2016short title, extent and commencement(2) it extends to the whole of indiadefinitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(a) "authority" means the freedom fighters welfare authority established under section 3;(b) "family" means spouse, parents, sons and daughters of the freedom fighters;5(c) "freedom fighter" means any person who has participated in the freedom movement or has undergone imprisonment in connection with the freedom movement; and(d) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act103 (1) the central government shall, by notification in the official gazette, establish an authority to be known as the freedom fighters welfare authority in every district of the countryestablishment of the freedom fighters welfare authority(2) the composition of the authority and terms and conditions of service of the members of the authority shall be such as may be prescribed4 the authority shall—functions of the authority15(i) maintain a register of freedom fighters and the members of their families residing in that district;(ii) formulate plans and schemes for the welfare of the freedom fighters and their families;20(iii) identify and remove the names illegally included in the list of names of freedom fighters; and(iv) recommend action against persons giving mala fide and incorrect statements or making disgraceful or insulting remarks or publishing distorted facts in books or newspapers or in any other media about freedom fighters 5 the central government shall provide to every freedom fighter and his family, as the case may be, the following facilities, namely:—25facilities to be provided to freedom fighters and their families(a) subsistence allowance of rupees fifteen thousand per month and such other financial assistance as may be prescribed;(b) free health care facilities; (c) free housing facility;30(d) free education including technical education to the dependant children of the freedom fighters;(e) gainful employment; (f) vocational training;35(g) free pass for travelling in ac first class in railways and other public and private owned transport; and(h) such other facilities as may be necessary for the all-round development and welfare of freedom fighters and their familiespower to make rules6 (1) the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this act40(2) every rule made under this act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule statement of objects and reasonsfreedom fighters have played an important role in the independence of our country it is only because of the struggle of freedom fighters that we are the citizens of a free india today today freedom fighters, who made great sacrifices putting their lives at stake and inspired the country for freedom, are leading a very hard life in an independent india the pension that they receive from the government is meager they are not able to sustain themselves properly with the amount of pension they are receiving they have been facing financial hardship they do not have any housing facility for themselves or their dependant children and they are unable to get any special financial help for the treatment of chronic diseases as a result of which they die for want of proper treatmentfurther writers are presenting distorted facts about freedom fighters in government and private publications there are many authors who do not have complete and correct information about freedom fighters, yet they write unrealistic articles about freedom fighters they are presenting wrong facts about freedom fighters and making illusive statements, as a result of which the citizens of the country including the families of freedom fighters are suffering mental agony this not only causes disrespect and insult to the freedom fighters, but also brings disgrace to the nationeven today, there are many names in the list of freedom fighters who had no connection with the freedom struggle, but still their names have been included in the list in an illegal mannerit is, therefore, necessary to bring legislation for the welfare and safeguard of freedom fighters and their familieshence this billnew delhi;manoj  rajoriaapril 13, 2016 financial memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for the establishment of  freedom fighters welfare authority by the central government in every district of the country clause 4 provides that the freedom fighters welfare authority shall formulate plans and prepare schemes for the welfare of the freedom fighters and their families and that they will also register the names of all freedom fighters and their families in their respective jurisdiction clause 5 provides that the central government shall provide to all freedom fighters and their families financial assistance of rupees fifteen thousand every month, free medical care and such other facilities as are necessary for their appropriate development and welfarethe bill, therefore, if enacted, would involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that  a recurring expenditure of rupees three hundred crore per annum would be involved from consolidated fund of indiaa non-recurring expenditure of about rupees sixty crore is also likely to be involved memorandum regarding delegated legislationclause 6 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of this bill as the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character———— a billto provide for the welfare of freedom fighters and their families and for matters connected therewith————(dr manoj rajoria, mp)gmgipmrnd—205ls(s3)—03052016