Agnipath Scheme: The massive imbroglio around the Agnipath Scheme, rolled out on June 14, 2022, reached its peak when the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi shared a video of the father of fallen Agniveer Ajay Singh, refuting claims made by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that they have not received any compensation from the Centre, as was promised to them under the programme. He also asked for the scheme to be scrapped.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army both claimed that the family of the Agniveer, who died during a landmine blast in the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir this year in January, was given a compensation Rs 98.29 lakhs while an additional sum to the tune of Rs 67 lakhs, will be paid after “necessary inquiry and internal procedures”, the Ministry of Defence said in informal inputs to the media.
“This is to put at Rest certain misleading reports that appeared in a section of media regarding compensation received by the family of Agniveer Ajay Singh After his unfortunate death. It may be noted that Agniveer Ajay Singh died in a landmine blast in January earlier this year in Naushera sector. His family received as compensation Rs 98,39,000 so far. After completion of necessary inquiry and internal procedures, they will get an additional sum to the tune of Rs 67 lakhs,” the Defence Ministry said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday said on X, “Indian Army is committed for the welfare of Agniveers!”
Singh, who hailed from Ludhiana, was on a routine patrolling duty when the blast took place. Two more soldiers of the Indian Army were also injured in the blast. Singh, 23 years old when he got killed at the Line of Control (LoC), was survived by his parents and six sisters.
Supporting MoD’s claims, the Indian Army also issued a statement in which it said, “Of the total amount due, the family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid Rs 98.39 lakhs. Ex - Gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately 67 lakhs, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid on Final Account Settlement shortly post due Police verification. The total amount will be Rs 1.65 Cr approximately.”
The Army also said that the last rites of Singh were carried out with full military honours.
“It is re-emphasised that emoluments due to a fallen hero are paid expeditiously to the Next of Kin of departed soldiers, including Agniveers,” the Army added.
The Defence Ministry as well as the Indian Army were reacting to a post shared by Gandhi on X late Wednesday evening after the Parliament session concluded, where Agniveer Singh’s father rejected the claims made by the Defence Minister in the Parliament on Monday and said they did not get any compensation. He also asked for the scheme to be scrapped.
The family had earlier claimed that they got compensation only from the Punjab government but not from the Centre.
“The Defence Minister has lied to the Parliament, to martyred Ajay Singh’s family, to the Agniveers, to the Indian Army and to the youth of the country,” Gandhi said in the post.
Agniveers As 'Use-and-Throw Labourers'
On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Gandhi sparred in the Parliament over compensation meant for the Agniveers compared to a regular soldier in the Indian armed forces.
Gandhi showered accusations on Narendra Modi government for not thinking through the scheme and that the government treats the Agniveers as “use-and-throw labourers” by not giving them the status of a “shaheed” (martyr).
Vehemently denying the claims made by Gandhi, the Defence Minister sought to defend the scheme, which was unveiled by him, and said the family was compensated. He said,
According to the Agnipath Scheme, the age limit for the applicants should be within 17.5 years to 21 years. Upon completion of four years of service only 25 percent of the Agniveers will be inducted into the forces while the remaining 75 per cent will be sent home with a final package of Rs. 11.71 lakhs, exempt from taxes, also known as the Seva Nidhi Fund. This is a one-time payment that Agniveers receive. Compared to this, an Indian Army soldier gets a lifelong pension.
So far, around 53,000 Agniveers have either been inducted in the tri-services – Army, Navy and Air Force – or are undergoing training. Upon death on the line of duty, an Agniveer gets one-time compensation of Rs. 1 crore, salary for the remaining period of up to four years of service and the Seva Nidhi Fund.
On the other hand, the regular soldier gets a plethora of emoluments, which includes Rs. 50 lakh insurance, Rs. 25-45 lakhs ex-gratia, reservation in government jobs and support for children’s education, among various other benefits.