Nagpur: The family of Akshay Gawate, an Agniveer from Buldhana district who died in October 2023 at Siachen Glacier due to health issues less than a year after his recruitment, received around Rs 1.08 crore from Government and the Army, contrary to Rahul Gandhi’s claim in Parliament that the families of soldiers recruited under Agnipath scheme do not receive any compensation in case of their death while on duty, a report in a local daily said.
Both Akshay’s family as well as local government officials confirmed that the money was received within a month. An application to declare Gawate’s death as a “battle casualty” is still pending. If approved, the family would get another Rs 1 crore from the State Government, according to the Zilla Sainik Welfare Board.
However, Akshay’s father Laxmanrao Gawate has demanded a pension so that there is a monthly payout. The 50-year-old, who tills a three-acre farm in Pimpalgaon Sarai village, also wants a government job for his 19-year-old daughter Shweta.
Out of the total amount received by the family, Rs 48 lakh was insurance money and Rs 50 lakh came from the Ministry of Defence. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had declared a grant of Rs 10 lakh as a special measure, while another Rs 6 lakh was contributed by his battalion, said an official.
