 bill no ii of 2007 the  freedom  fighters  and  their  families (welfare)  bill,  2007 a billto provide for the welfare of freedom fighters and their families and for matters connected therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the fifty-eighth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the freedom fighters and their families (welfare)act, 2007short title, extent and commencement(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, appointdefinitions2 in this act,  unless the context otherwise requires,—(a) "appropriate government" means in the case of a state the government of that state and in other cases, the central government(b) "family" means the family members of a freedom fighter and his dependants10(c) "freedom fighter" means any leader or martyr or a patriot who has inspirednational struggle for  independence of the country(d) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act3 the central government shall establish an authority to be known as the"freedom fighters welfare authority" which shall have offices in  every district of the country for the purpose of performing functions assigned under this actfreedom fighters welfare authority4 the functions  of the authority shall be,—functions of the authority(i) to register all freedom fighters and the members of their families  in the country;(ii) to formulate plans and prepare scheme for their welfare; (iii) to identify the names that have been illegally included in the list of freedom fighters and to remove them from the list; and(iv) to identify persons using factually incorrect statements about freedom fighters or making disgraceful and insulting remarks about them or publishing such comments by distorting facts in a wrong manner in a book or press or any other media and ensuring action against them 5 the appropriate government shall provide every freedom fighter and his family and dependants registered with the freedom fighters welfare authority the following facilities:—facilities to be provided to freedom fighters, etc(a) fifteen thousand rupees per month in the form of financial assistance for their subsistence  which shall be linked to the subsistence expenditure index so as to ensure a decent standard of livelihood for freedom fighters and their family members;(b) free medical assistance; (c) free accommodation according to the needs; (d) free education including technical education for the dependants of the freedom fighters;(e) remunerative employment;(f) professional training; (g) free travel facilities in ac first class by railways and government and private owned transport; and(h) such other facilities, as are necessary for their appropriate progress and welfarepower to make rules6 the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this act  shal 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 government is very meagre 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 nation even 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 billjai  parkash  aggarwal financial memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for the establishment of "freedom fighter welfare authority" by the central government with offices in every district clause 4 provide that each freedom fighter welfare authority shall formulate plans and prepare schemes for the welfare of freedom fighters and their families and shall register the names of all the freedom fighters and the members of their families living under their jurisdiction clause 5 provides for grant of a help of rupees fifteen thousand per month for the sustenance of all the freedom fighters and their dependants, free medical assistance and such other facilities, as are necessary for their appropriate development and welfare, etcthe enactment of the bill would, therefore, involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that it may involve a recurring expenditure to the tune of three hundred crore per annum approximatelyit is also likely to involve a non-recurring expenditure of about rupees sixty crore memorandum regarding delegated legislationclause 6 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the bill since these rules will relate to matters of details only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character rajya  sabha———— a billto provide for the welfare of freedom fighters and their families and for matters connected  therewith————(shri jai parkash aggarwal, mp)mgipmrnd—1211rs(s-5)—16032007