New Delhi:

Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief RKS Bhadauria spoke about the settlement of compensation to a deceased Agniveer soldier’s family, explaining that the process takes time due to comprehensive guidelines that usually span two to three months.

He detailed the steps involved in the ex-gratia compensation process and addressed concerns regarding the time required to finalize payments.

“There is a process for compensation and other amounts because if it is a battle casualty or physical casualty which is attributable, it is managed by the government and therefore it has to be established. That process of establishment follows certain guidelines.

The post-mortem report should come, all the incident reports, the court of inquiry, and the report from the police–these are the major elements. This process needs to be completed. It is no different in the case of a normal soldier or an Agniveer. It is the same,” Mr Bhadauria said in an interview with ANI.

Speaking about the time taken to settle all payments to the deceased soldier’s next of kin, he said, “Normally it takes two to three months because there is an inquiry involved.”

Mr Bhadauria denied allegations that families of Agniveers are kept in the dark about the compensation process, saying that defence personnel in the unit take care of the family and explain the process in detail.

“Every unit takes great care. They are at pains to be in touch with the family. They are always in touch with the family and they explain at length,” he said.

Mr Bhadauria reasoned that due to the trauma experienced by the family of the deceased, a sense of “confusion” might arise.

“You must imagine a family that has gone through this trauma. There are a lot of people interacting and advising. So it is that which leads to a sense of confusion to get created,” he said.

Mr Bhadauria also pointed out that, in the event of a soldier’s death, a sizeable portion of the insurance amount is credited to the next of kin.

“Whenever such an incident happens and somebody loses their life, in all cases–whether it is a battle casualty, physical casualty, attributable, or non-attributable–the insurance amount gets credited straightaway. In the case of a normal soldier, they have their policies. They normally credit 50 per cent straightaway within 24 or 48 hours, and then they meet the family and ask how they would like the rest, whether in their name or children’s name,” he said.

Mr Bhadauria stressed that there is no confusion about the next of kin for the soldier, as they are clearly defined in advance. He also said that the deceased soldier’s family is provided with financial guidance.

“The next of kin is clearly defined. There is no confusion. The money can only go to the account of the next of kin. There is a lot of financial guidance given to the family, which many of the soldiers’ families would need. This is also provided by the insurance company through our officers and men,” he said.

Sharing an attribute of the insurance payable to all enrolled under the Agnipath scheme, the Retired Air Chief Marshall said that unlike regular soldiers the Agniveers do not need to contribute any portion of their salary towards insurance and the entire amount is paid by the Government of India.

“In the case of Agniveer in particular, the insurance is paid by the Government of India. The Agniveers don’t even contribute. In the case of a regular soldier, every month roughly Rs 5000 is cut. You are into a contributory insurance scheme, in all three Services. Roughly Rs 5000 is charged for sepoys, which is Rs 60000 per year and you get insured. The insurance figures are a little different in the three services but of the order of around Rs 50-60 lakhs for sepoys. That is contributory. In the case of Agniveers, they do not contribute. Government of India pays the insurance, should something happen,” Mr Bhadauria said.

Amid the ongoing controversy over compensation for Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s family, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retired) has clarified the situation. He explained that while a portion of the compensation has already been disbursed, the remainder will be settled once the necessary paperwork is completed. Bhadauria addressed the controversy surrounding financial aid, explaining the current status of payments and the steps needed for finalizing the ex-gratia compensation.

“I think the recent controversy has been around financial aid or whatever payments have been made, whether they have been made or not. The Army has released a media brief stating that Rs 98.39 lakh have been paid. This is primarily the insurance from the Government of India, and there is a DSP account with the bank which ensures that the payment of Rs 50 lakh and Rs 48 lakh from the Government of India also goes through. That has already been cleared,” the Retired Air Chief Marshal said in an exclusive conversation with ANI.

Mr Bhadauria said that unless the police report comes through and it is settled that the case is “battle casualty” attributable, the ex-gratia cannot be paid from the central welfare fund.

“You have to wait for the paperwork to be over for all the final settlement of account that takes place. For that, one of the critical things is the police report. Based on that final thing…whether it is battle casualty attributable unless the attributability comes, the ex gratia cannot be paid from the central welfare fund. That is a complete fund. The Ministry of Defence does it. It is also dependent on the reports that come from the police. In this case, the Jammu and Kashmir Police will send its report. I think those actions should have been completed. It was in the final stages as I knew last week,” the Retired Air Chief Marshall said.

Mr Bhadauria said that Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s family will receive an additional Rs 67 lakh, and the total emoluments for his next-of-kin will amount to Rs 1.65 crore.

“Some more money will be transferred. That will be the ex-gratia from the Army central welfare fund and his balance of payment for the unserved portion and the Seva Nidhi package. So over Rs 67 odd lakhs further will go. So total emoluments that his next-of-kin will get is of the order of Rs 1.65 crores. So these are the hard facts,” he said.

Agniveer Ajay Kumar was killed in a landmine blast near the Line of Control in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The confusion over the financial compensation paid to the deceased Agniveer led to a political slugfest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition parties.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has again raised questions over the claims by the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, who was killed in the line of duty, that they have not got any compensation. The 23-year-old was killed on January 18 in a landmine blast near the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Gandhi shared a video on X, purportedly of Ajay Kumar’s father, who said his family got Rs 50 lakh as insurance from a private bank and Rs 48 lakh from the Army Group Insurance Fund.

The Indian Army has rejected claims on social media that compensation has not been paid to the next of kin of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, and said his family has already been given Rs 98.39 lakh of the due amount. The total amount will be Rs 1.65 crore approximately, the army said in the “clarification” that came after Mr Gandhi shared the video on the microblogging platform.

Mr Gandhi in the video said the family had not got compensation, or ex-gratia payment.

शहीद अग्निवीर अजय कुमार जी के परिवार को आज तक सरकार की ओर से कोई Compensation नहीं मिला है।

‘Compensation’ और ‘Insurance’ में फर्क होता है, शहीद के परिवार को सिर्फ बीमा कंपनी की ओर से भुगतान किया गया है।

सरकार की ओर से जो सहायता शहीद अजय कुमार के परिवार को मिलनी चाहिए थी वो… pic.twitter.com/FG99h72rhX

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 5, 2024

“The family of martyr Agniveer Ajay Kumar has not received any compensation from the government till date. There is a difference between ‘compensation’ and ‘insurance’. The payment has been made to the family of the martyr only by the insurance company,” Mr Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

“The family of every martyr who sacrifices his or her life for the country should be respected but the Modi government is discriminating against them. No matter what the government says, this is a matter of national security and I will keep raising it,” he said.

In the video, Ajay Kumar’s father said his family had not received any money from the central government, and demanded facilities and pension. He also asked for a canteen card to be given to his family. “Rajnath Singh said that families of martyrs have been given Rs 1 crore. We haven’t got that,” he said.

The Congress on Thursday asked the government to bring out a “white paper” on the Agnipath scheme for short-term military recruitment.

Launched in 2022, the Agnipath scheme provides for short-term induction of personnel into the armed forces with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services. Those recruited under the scheme are called Agniveers.

Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps carry the mortal remains of Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman, an operator who lost his life in the service of duty amid the treacherous terrains of the Siachen glacier, during the wreath-laying ceremony, on October 22, 2023
| Photo Credit: ANI

Expressing support for the bereaved family of Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman, the Indian Army on Sunday sought to clear the air on compensation to the next of kin, saying that the same is ” governed by the relevant terms & conditions of service of the soldier”. Agniveer Laxman laid down his life in the line of duty in Siachen, the Army posted from its X handle on Sunday

The Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), IHQ of MoD (Army) stated that “in view of conflicting messages on social media regarding financial assistance to the Next of Kin of the deceased, it was important to clarify that emoluments due to the Next of Kin were governed by the relevant terms and conditions of service of the soldier”.

“As per the terms of engagement of Agniveers, emoluments authorised to a deceased battle casualty will comprise : Non-contributory insurance sum, amounting to Rs 48 lakh. Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer (30%), with equal matching contribution by the Govt, and interest thereon. Ex-gratia of Rs 44 lakh. Pay of balance tenure from date of death till completion of four years (more than Rs 13 lakh in the instant case). Contribution of Rs 8 lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund. Immediate financial assistance of Rs 30 thousand from Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA),” the ADG PI wrote.

Earlier, on Sunday, the Army paid tribute to the fallen Agniveer, an operator who lost his life in the terrains of the Siachen glacier. Offering its condolences to the kin, the Army’s Fire and Fury Corps posted on X, “Quartered in snow silent to remain, when the bugle calls, they shall rise and march again. All ranks of Fire and Fury Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of Agniveer (Operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman, in the line of duty, in the unforgiving heights of Siachen, and offer deepest condolences to the family.”