He was 16 when jailed for anti-British Raj protest in 1943. But Pune's Bal Pulee's efforts to be recognised as freedom fighter are still pitted against govt red tape
He was 16 when jailed for anti-British Raj protest in 1943. But Pune's Bal Pulee's efforts to be recognised as freedom fighter are still pitted against govt red tape
For Pune-based Manohar Dattatray alias Bal Pulee (83), it is in the autumn of his life that he has to fight for recognition from the state government as a freedom fighter.
Bal Pulee and his wife are waiting for the pension, as they are in dire financial straits
Despite recommendations from the office of the Pune collector and other bodies, the high-powered freedom fighter committee of the state government is yet to respond to his appeals in the last three months.
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But his struggle for acknowledgement goes as far back as the year 2000.
Bal Pulee was arrested and jailed for eight days, from August 8 to August 16, 1943, after he participated in an agitation against the British government.
However, like many other minors, he was let off because he was around 16 years old at the time.
Though Pulee, who was a photographer, he fought against the British rule, he has never been a beneficiary of the freedom fighters' pension, as the government rule then stated that freedom fighters had to spend at least six months in jail to be eligible for the pension.
However, a Bombay High Court ruling stated that minors jailed during the freedom movement are also eligible.
Trying hard
The ruling, which came to Pulee's notice in 2000, goaded him to work toward the possibility of being recognised as a freedom fighter and avail of the pension. But activists say bureaucratic delay has held up his pension plan.
"Right from year 2000, Pulee has been trying to get recognition from the district administration and the authorities.
Initially, the administration dismissed his claims. They said there were no records with them to prove his imprisonment," said Vihar Durve, an RTI activist, who has been fighting Pulee's case.
"However, after freedom fighters Haribhau Limaye and Rambhau Telang submitted an affidavit certifying that Pulee was eligible for the freedom fighters' pension, the administration recognised his claim.
The Deputy Resident Collector, Anil Pawar, wrote a letter to the state government on October 14, 2010, endorsing Pulee's claim.
Even the Swatantra Sainik Gaurav Samiti said that he was eligible for the pension. But the state is yet to respond," Durve said.
Seeing red
"The process of acknowledging Pulee's case has started, but the bureaucracy has been somehow dodging this case.
It is a clear case of government red tape. He was a minor; therefore he was let off after being jailed for sometime," said Limaye, who, along with Rambhau Telang, had been jailed for three years.
"But we did not have a jail certificate and the administration admitted that some pages were missing from the records. I asked them to give it to me in writing that I had been jailed.
It was after an MP and an MLA gave a certificate that the administration accepted the fact of my imprisonment," he said.
Pulee, meanwhile, is eagerly awaiting the pension. "I am happy that they have at least acknowledged my role in the freedom movement.
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Now Iu00a0am expecting the freedom fighters' pension. I am just waiting for the government to respond," said Pulee, in financial straits after both his sons passed away.
The Other Side
RT Jadhav, deputy secretary, General Administration Department, and a member of the High Power Committee on Freedom Fighters, said "There are many cases of freedom fighters that come before the department. But I will look into this issue and find out the reasons for the delay and why the matter is pending."
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