Agartala: The government of Tripura has decided to honour the lone surviving soldier who fought during World War II for India along with 29 others from the state.
Speaking with reporters, education minister Ratan Lal Nath said that a total of 30 people from Tripura fought in World War II; one of them — Balaram Chandra Podder — is still receiving pension from the government.
“Podder is a resident of Jatanbari are under Amarpur sub-division is still drawing a social pension of Rs 10,000 per month. The wives of 27 other soldiers are receiving the family pension while two spouses of the soldiers have passed away,” Nath said.
He also said that the previous Left Front government had provided only Rs 4,000 per month as family pension to these 29 soldiers family who fought in the World War II from Tripura. The present government had hiked the pension to Rs 10,000 per month.
The state government is planning to felicitate this eminent personality Balaram Chandra Podder in any ensuing auspicious occasion related to patriotic days, he said.
“A total of 118 freedom fighters in 2017-18 and 120 freedom fighters in 2018-19 were benefited by the social pension. In 2019-20 more 100 freedom fighters were benefited with a social pension of Rs 800 which was previously Rs 500 during previous Left Front government,” Nath added,
The freedom fighters and spouses are receiving a central pension of Rs 29,000 per month in addition to the state pension. The unmarried daughters are also getting 50% of the sum.