 bill no  35 of  2009 the freedom fighters and their families (welfare) bill, 2009 byshri j p agarwal, mpa billto provide for the welfare of  freedom fighters and their families and for matters connected therewithbe  it enacted by parliament in the sixtieth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the freedom fighters and their families (welfare) act,2009short title,extent andcommencement(2) it extends to the whole of india5(3) it shall come into force on such date as the central government may, by notificationin the official gazette, appoint2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—definitions(a) "authority" means the freedom fighters welfare authority established under section 3;(b) "family" means spouse, parents, sons and daughters of the freedom fighters; (c) "freedom fighter" means any person who has participated in the freedom movement or has undergone imprisonment in connection with the freedom movement; and5(d) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act3 (1) the central government shall establish an authority, to be known as the freedom fighters welfare authority in every district of the country(2) the composition of the authority and conditions of service of the members of the authority shall be such as may be prescribedestablishment of the freedom fighters welfare authority4 the authority shall perform the following functions:—10functions of the authority(i) maintaining a register of freedom fighters and the members of their familiesresiding in that district;(ii) formulating plans and schemes for the welfare of the freedom fighters andtheir families;15(iii) identifying the names illegally included in the list of names of freedomfighters and to remove such names from the list; and(iv) recommending action against persons giving mala fide and incorrectstatements or making disgraceful or insulting remarks or publishing distorted facts in books or newspapers or in any other media about freedom fighters205 the central government shall provide to every freedom fighter and his family, as the case may be, the following facilities, namely:—facilities to be provided to freedom fighters and their families(a) subsistence allowance of rupees fifteen thousand per month and such otherfinancial assistance as may be prescribed;(b) free health care facilities; (c) free housing facility;25(d) free education including technical education to the dependant children ofthe freedom fighters;(e) gainful employment; (f) vocational training;30(g) free pass for travelling in ac first class in railways and other public andprivate owned transport; and(h) such other facilities as may be necessary for the all-round development andwelfare of freedom fighters and their familiespower to make rules6 (1) the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rulesfor carrying out the purposes of this act3540(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 liberation 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;j p agarwaljune 17, 2009 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 it will incur a recurring expenditure of rupees three hundred crore per annum,it is also likely to involve a non-recurring expenditure of about rupees sixty crore memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 6 of the bill gives power to the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of this bill since the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character lok   sabha———— a billto provide for the welfare of  freedom fighters and their families and for matters connected therewith————(shri j p agarwal, mp)gmgipmrnd—2413ls(s5)—03-07-2009