Maharashtra doubles honorarium of Emergency-era prisoners

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis introduced the ‘Gaurav Yojana’ policy during his first term as CM in 2018 to provide a monthly honorarium to such individuals. | Photo Credit: PTI

The Maharashtra cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (June 17, 2025), doubled the monthly honorarium given to individuals from the State who were imprisoned for over a month during the Emergency.

The cabinet also decided that in case such persons have died, a surviving spouse would receive half the amount as an honorarium. The name of the imprisoned individual’s spouse will also be added as a beneficiary.

The cabinet approved the changes under the ongoing policy, ‘Gaurav Yojana,’ a policy introduced by Mr. Fadnavis during his first term as CM in 2018 to provide a monthly honorarium to such individuals. The announcement on Tuesday (June 17, 2025) also marked the 50th anniversary of the 21-month Emergency from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, which was declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Benefits under the scheme at present include a monthly pension of ₹ 5,000 for those imprisoned for a month; those jailed for longer durations get ₹10,000 per month. These amounts will be doubled as per the cabinet decision.

Under existing rules, if those imprisoned have died, their kin will receive a monthly pension of ₹2,500 (for a jail term of a month or less) and ₹5,000 (for a jail term of more than a month).

Those eligible can apply to the district collectorate on a ₹100 stamp paper. This will be scrutinised by a committee headed by the collector.

Published - June 18, 2025 02:40 am IST