99-year-old freedom fighter on hunger strike for pension

Nov 05, 2011 |

Ranchi

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An elderly couple, who served prison terms for participating in Salt Satyagrahah and Quit India Movement, on Saturday began an indefinite hunger strike near Raj Bhavan demanding pension.

“We participated in Quit India Movement and Salt Satyagrahah, and went to jail thrice, in Godda and Deogarh, for about a month,” 99-year-old Bhagaiya Ram and his 85-year-old wife Chamni told reporters at the spot where they on hunger-strike.

“Even after we came out of jail on bail, we continued to participate in the freedom struggle and were made accused in a criminal case No 161/1945 (Emperor Vs Chedi Rout case) and were forwarded from Godda to Dumka jail,” Ram said while showing the documents to the reporters.

The couple said they had on October 13 intimated the authorities concerned about their proposed indefinite hunger strike today.

Jharkhand Senior Citizens’ Association head Arun Kumar Pandey, who is helping the couple, said as per Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension, 1972, a person who was imprisoned or detained during the freedom movement was ‘eligible’ for a pension of Rs 3000 per month and that the couple should also be given the benefit.

The couple hail from Heerakhunthari village in Jharkhand’s Godda district.

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