New Delhi: The death of Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman in the line of duty at Siachen has been overshadowed by a row, as various sections, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claimed that the next of kin (NOK) would not get any compensation from the Army.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said that the scheme was an insult to the bravehearts of India.
After observing conflicting messages on social media about financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased, the Army late last night issued a clarification detailing the benefits that an Agniveer’s next of kin will receive in the event of Battle Casualty, a categorisation needed to avail the due benefits.
सियाचिन में, अग्निवीर गवाते अक्षय लक्ष्मण की शहादत का समाचार बहुत दुखद है। उनके परिवार को मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं।
एक युवा देश के लिए शहीद हो गया – सेवा के समय न ग्रेच्युटी न अन्य सैन्य सुविधाएं, और शहादत में परिवार को पेंशन तक नहीं।
अग्निवीर, भारत के वीरों के अपमान की योजना है! pic.twitter.com/8LcQpZR9f2
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 22, 2023
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What Agniveer Laxman’s next of kin will get
The Army said that emoluments due to the next of kin are governed by the relevant terms and conditions of service of the soldier, which in this case is the Agniveer scheme.
#Agniveer (Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman laid down his life in the line of duty in #Siachen. #IndianArmy stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.
In view of conflicting messages on social media regarding financial assistance to the Next of Kin of the… pic.twitter.com/46SVfMbcjl
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 22, 2023
As reported by ThePrint in June last year, when the scheme was launched, emoluments authorised to a deceased Battle Casualty, who is an Agniveer, will comprise a non-contributory insurance sum amounting to Rs 48 lakh.
The next of kin will also get Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer (30 percent), with an equal matching contribution by the government, and interest thereon.
Apart from an ex gratia of Rs 44 lakh, pay of balance tenure from the date of death, till completion of four years (more than ₹13 lakh, in this case) will also be handed over to the next of kin.
There will also be a contribution of Rs 8 lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund as well as immediate financial assistance of Rs 30,000 from the Army Wives Welfare Association.
Since Agniveer Laxman was from the Regiment of Artillery, his NOK will also receive compensation from the DG Artillery fund which would be around Rs 5 lakh since he is Battle Casualty.
Disparity in benefits?
Several veterans have pointed out that Laxman’s family will not get the family pension which even a temporary trainee civil employee is entitled to.
Sources in the defence establishment said that when the scheme was launched last year, it was made clear that an Agniveer would not get any pension and hence, there was no family pension.
However, there is a growing clamour among a section of the veterans that NOKs of Agniveers declared as Battle Casualty should get extra benefits since these are cases of lives lost in service of the nation.
The sources explained that had Laxman joined before the Agniveer scheme, the NOK would have got liberalised family pension, which would have been 100 percent of emoluments based on last drawn pay.
The immediate family would have also enjoyed the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, besides other facilities available.
Only 25 percent of Agniveers who would be permanently absorbed into the Army after the completion of four-year service were entitled to the other benefits, they said.
Under the Agniveer scheme, the military recruits youth between 17-and-a-half years of age to those aged twenty-one, as soldiers for a period of four years. While all Agniveers will be given the option to enroll into the regular cadre after four years, only 25 percent from each batch will be eligible after their service duration of four years.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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