The parents of Captain Anshuman Singh, who passed away in a fire at Siachen last July, are requesting changes to the Indian Army's criteria for financial support to next of kin (NOK).
Ravi Pratap Singh and his wife Manju Singh told a news channel that their daughter-in-law, Smriti Singh, left their home and now receives most of the benefits after their son's death. Mr. Singh stated that the only item remaining is a picture of their son that is "hanging on the wall."
“Current Criteria for NOK are Not Right”
"The current criteria for NOK are not right," Mr. Singh told TV9 Bharatvarsh. "I have also spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about this. Anshuman's wife doesn't live with us anymore; their marriage was only five months old and they had no children. We only have a photo of our son hanging on the wall with a garland around it."
"That's why we want the definition of NOK to be revised. It should be clear how benefits are distributed, especially if the wife of the deceased soldier does not stay with the family," he added.
According to Captain Singh's mother, the government should review the NOK regulations to spare other parents from suffering.
What is Indian Army’s Next of Kin Rule?
In military terms, "next of kin" refers to a person's spouse, closest relatives, family member, or legal guardian.
- If something happens to a service member, the ex-gratia payment is given to their designated next of kin, similar to how a bank nominee receives funds.
- When a cadet or officer joins the Army, their parents or guardians' names are initially recorded as next of kin.
- Upon marriage, Army rules dictate that the spouse's name replaces the parents' as the designated next of kin for the service member.
Capt. Anshuman’s Ultimate Sacrifice
Captain Singh, serving as a medical officer with 26 Punjab in the Siachen Glacier area, faced a fire sparked by a short circuit at an Indian Army ammunition depot on July 19, 2023, around 3 am. Upon seeing a fiberglass hut ablaze, he immediately sprung into action to rescue the persons trapped inside. He managed to save four to five people from the burning hut. Soon after, the fire also quickly reached a nearby medical investigation room.
Captain Singh re-entered the engulfed structure in an effort to save more lives. Sadly, he was unable to escape the fire and tragically lost his life in the line of duty.
Posthumously Honored with Kirti Chakra
Captain Singh received the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest gallantry award, after his heroic actions. President Droupadi Murmu awarded the medal to Captain Singh's wife, Smriti, and his mother at Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 5, in recognition of his bravery and sacrifice.
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