The Chhattisgarh government has taken a significant step towards the welfare of its citizens by reinstating pensions for MISA detainees. Along with this decision, the Vishnudev government has released Rs 35 crores for the concerned districts. What makes this noteworthy is the government’s decision to provide a lump sum of arrears for 5 years.
Cancellation of Previous Orders, Release of Funds
In Chhattisgarh, before 2018, pensions were provided to MISA detainees during Dr. Raman Singh’s tenure. However, when the Congress came into power in 2018 (Bhupesh Baghel government), the pension for MISA detainees was discontinued. Now, in 2023, with the BJP government back in power, the decision has been made to reinstate it. The state government has annulled both the notifications of the Congress government (January-July 2020) and decided to provide approximately Rs 9 crores annually to 430 Loktantra Senanis/Ashrits based on the situation in 2018.
Payment of Arrears Alongside Pensions
According to the orders, arrears for the previous 5 years will also be paid. For this purpose, Rs 35 crores have been allocated to the districts based on the number of members. Under this, individuals detained for less than a month will receive Rs 8,000 per month, those detained for 1 to 5 months will receive Rs 15,000 per month, and those detained for 5 months or more will receive Rs 25,000 per month. The decision has been taken to provide arrears from November 1, 2024, until the commencement of the honorarium payment period.
Who are MISA Detainees?
MISA stands for Maintenance of Internal Security Act. It was enacted during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure when the country was under emergency. During this period, non-Congress leaders and opponents of the emergency were forcibly detained. During the BJP government, these detainees were given the title of Loktantra Senanis and pensions were initiated under the Jayaprakash Narayan Honorarium Fund. To provide honorarium amounts to detainees under MISA/DIR for political or social reasons in Chhattisgarh, the Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan Honorarium Fund Rules 2008 were formulated.
The decision to reinstate pensions and provide arrears to MISA detainees reflects the state government’s commitment to social justice and welfare. It ensures that those who sacrificed for the cause of democracy are duly recognized and supported.