📷 Image Credits: India Today
The parents of Captain Anshuman Singh, who was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, have raised concerns over the ‘next of kin’ (NOK) policy of the Indian Army. Captain Anshuman Singh lost his life in a fire incident at Siachen Glacier in July last year, while rescuing his fellow Army officers. His parents, Ravi Pratap Singh and Manju Singh, have expressed their grievances regarding the current NOK rules, which determine financial assistance to family members in case of a soldier’s death. In an interview with a news channel, they highlighted that their daughter-in-law Smriti Singh, who now lives separately, is receiving most of the benefits after their son’s demise.
Ravi Pratap Singh emphasized the need for revisiting the NOK criteria, stating that the existing rules are not equitable. He even approached Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to address this issue. With their son’s marriage being only five months old and no children in the picture, the Singh family feels isolated with just a photo of Captain Anshuman adorning their wall. They voiced their desire for a revised definition of NOK that considers the living arrangements and dependencies of the martyr’s spouse. Manju Singh echoed her husband’s sentiments, expressing the hope to spare other parents similar distress by amending the current policy.
In the Indian Army, the NOK designation refers to the closest relatives or legal representatives of a soldier, who are entitled to certain benefits in case of a serviceman’s demise. The regulations stipulate that the ex-gratia amount is allocated to the NOK in such circumstances. Initially, when an individual joins the Army, their parents or guardians are recorded as the NOK. However, upon marriage, the spouse’s name supersedes the parents’ in the NOK records, based on Army guidelines.
Captain Anshuman Singh’s selfless act of bravery, where he saved several lives at the cost of his own, earned him the prestigious Kirti Chakra. His wife Smriti Singh and mother received the gallantry award from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 5. The Singh family’s plea for a policy overhaul aims to ensure fairness and support for families of martyred soldiers, reflecting a broader call for compassionate and considerate policies within the armed forces.
