Finally, pension for 95-yr-old freedom fighter

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has finally come to the aid of 95-year-old war veteran

Nanu Gopi

of Vakkom. The government has decided to sanction a pension to the former member of

Indian National Army

(

INA

) led by Subhas Chandra Bose. TOI had reported about the plight of Nanu Gopi of Vakkom, who decided to seek

pension for freedom fighters

after he could no longer work and sustain himself.

In an order dated July 3, the state government decided to sanction him a pension under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension (SSSP) scheme.

Nanu Gopi of Vilayil Puthanveedu, Thannimmoodu, Vakkom near Varkala was jailed in Changi Central Prison in Singapore along with other INA fighters from June 10, 1941 to February 16, 1942.

According to him, it was his own reluctance to apply for a pension, that put him in a situation where he had to knock at the doors of the authorities at the fag end of his life. In his own words, he never hoped for pension. But, old age and loneliness gave him no other choice but to apply for it to live out the rest of his days in a decent way. But, that’s when he had to face official apathy after his application was rejected multiple times citing petty reasons.

When Nanu applied for pension in 2014, the district administration rejected his application citing that the INA was formed only in September 1942. He had joined the activities of the organization even before its official formation. Producing relevant documents regarding the imprisonment did not help either.