Summary of this article
West Bengal will confer the ‘Paschimbanga Loktantra Senani Samman’ on 325 people jailed during the 1975 Emergency
It will offer them a Rs 10,000 monthly honorarium.
Beneficiaries will also get free travel on government buses and Rs 1,000 monthly medical assistance for treatment at state hospitals.
The West Bengal government has announced a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 under the ‘Paschimbanga Lokotantra Senani Samman’ scheme for 325 identified individuals who were jailed during the Emergency in 1975. These monthly pension of 10,000 is in addition to other benefits, and includes free bus travel and dedicated medical assistance of Rs 1,000 for treatments at state government hospitals. The government has also ensured that this safety net will be extended to the surviving spouses and family of these individuals, if a beneficiary has passed away.
Notably, this is part of the government’s broader commitment to the state’s ‘soldiers’, which the government promised while assuming office. Recalling the 1975 Emergency, where nearly 100,000 people were jailed across India, including around 5,000 from West Bengal, Adhikari stressed the need to remember their sacrifices “in defence of democracy”, according to a PTI report. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that these individuals are the foundation upon which the current government stands, representing a legacy that must be protected for future generations.
Reportedly, several BJP-ruled states have joined the Centre in observing June 25 as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ and honouring the sacrifices of those who protested against curbs on democratic rights so that it remains in the public consciousness.
Incidentally, the state government is also preparing to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee.
According to the report, a special committee will be formed on August 13, 2026, headed by the chief secretary. Its goal is to include the ideals of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee into the educational system of West Bengal.
Adhikari also was vocal about past attempts to “erase nationalism” and the “Sanatan” culture, criticising previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress administrations for allegedly undermining the patriotic history of Bengal.
Adhikari has also signalled an open-door policy for the Loktantra Senani Sangh, an organisation representing these political prisoners, by being open to listening to their constructive suggestions for the future. Adhikari said that the government would take initiatives to make the younger generation acquainted with their contribution.
