Former IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria Explains Compensation Process for Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s Family
New Delhi, India – Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief RKS Bhadauria discussed the process of providing ex-gratia compensation to the family of a deceased Agniveer soldier. He explained that the process takes two to three months due to comprehensive guidelines that need to be followed.
Steps Involved in Compensation
Bhadauria detailed the steps involved, including the need for a post-mortem report, incident reports, a court of inquiry, and a police report. He emphasized that this process is the same for both regular soldiers and Agniveers.
Addressing Concerns
Bhadauria addressed concerns about the time taken to settle payments, stating that it usually takes two to three months due to the inquiry involved. He denied allegations that families are kept in the dark, explaining that defense personnel take great care to stay in touch with the family and explain the process in detail.
Insurance and Financial Guidance
He also pointed out that a significant portion of the insurance amount is credited to the next of kin immediately. Bhadauria stressed that the next of kin is clearly defined and that financial guidance is provided to the family.
Special Provisions for Agniveers
Bhadauria highlighted that Agniveers do not need to contribute to their insurance, as the entire amount is paid by the Government of India. This is different from regular soldiers who contribute a portion of their salary towards insurance.
Controversy Over Compensation
Amid the controversy over compensation for Agniveer Ajay Kumar’s family, Bhadauria clarified that while a portion of the compensation has been disbursed, the remainder will be settled once the necessary paperwork is completed. He explained that the total emoluments for Ajay Kumar’s next-of-kin will amount to Rs 1.65 crore.
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 led to a political dispute between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition parties.
