On Monday, Thanekars celebrated 66th Republic Day and as a mark of respect, freedom fighters were felicitated admist the presence of guardian minister Eknath Shinde at Saket Maidan, Thane. However, these veteran citizens are struggling to live a decent life. During the Republic Day celebration, they shared their story with Zee 24 Taas.
On Monday, Thanekars celebrated 66th Republic Day and as a mark of respect, freedom fighters were felicitated admist the presence of guardian minister Eknath Shinde at Saket Maidan, Thane. However, these veteran citizens are struggling to live a decent life. During the Republic Day celebration, they shared their story with Zee 24 Taas.
In 1955, Nihalsing Katarsing Sodhi participated in the Goa liberation movement. He is 80 years old now and lives in Mumbra alone. A patient of heart ailment, Sodhi is dependent on the monthly pension of Rs10,000 from the state government and Rs22,000 from the Central Government. "While the pension from the Center comes on time, it is difficult to get the state government's pension on time. I received my state pension for five months last December," said Sodhi.
He also announced that though the schemes for freedom fighters are announced with much flash on R-Day and Independence Day by the government, they have to go through a lot to avail them. "The freedom fighters are supposed to get a plot to build a house, but since past eight years, I have been applying with no response. Once they gave me a plot at Shil Phata, Kalyan which had no electricity, water and hospital nearby. So I did not take it up, I am an old ailing man and it would be difficult for me to travel to a faraway hospital," he added.
Similarly, the struggle of Koli Augustine, 95 from Uttan, Bhayander is not over yet. He is still struggling to get equality in pension awarded to freedom fighters. "The freedom fighters from the state government get Rs10,000 as pension while from the center they get Rs20,000. Why this disparity?" said Koli who took part in 1935 Slt Satyagrah at Uttan.
Yogesh Sawant, 62, from Bhandup, son of Tukaram Govind Sawant who passed away in 1979, said, "According to the government, unmarried and unemployed daughters of freedom fighters will be the beneficiaries of their parents' pension. However, two of my sisters have not received their dues yet,"
Eknath Shinde listened to these grievances and assured them that the government will arrive at some solution soon.
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