In a move recognizing the sacrifices made during the 1975 Emergency, the Maharashtra government has decided to double the monthly honorarium for activists and social workers who were incarcerated for defending democracy. The decision was made during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This increase in financial support will also extend to the surviving spouses of these individuals.
As per the new provisions, activists who were imprisoned for over a month during the Emergency (June 25, 1975 – March 31, 1977) will now receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 20,000. Their surviving spouses will be entitled to Rs 10,000 per month. Activists jailed for less than a month will receive Rs 10,000 monthly, and their spouses will get Rs 5,000 per month.
To access the benefits, spouses are required to apply through the office of the concerned District Magistrate. If an activist who was imprisoned during the Emergency passed away before January 2, 2018, their spouse can apply with an affidavit.
The state government initially launched this scheme in 2018 to honor activists with a monthly honorarium. The program has now been expanded to offer increased financial support to these individuals and their families.