The parents of Captain Anshuman Singh, who died in a fire incident in Siachen last July, are demanding changes to the Indian Army’s next of kin (NOK) criteria for financial assistance in the event of a soldier’s death. Speaking to a news channel, Ravi Pratap Singh and his wife, Manju Singh, stated that their daughter-in-law, Smriti Singh, left their home and now receives most of the entitlements following their son’s death. Mr. Singh expressed that all they have left of their son is a photo “hanging on the wall.”
“The current NOK criteria are flawed. I have also raised this issue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Anshuman’s wife no longer lives with us, their marriage lasted only five months, and they had no children. We are left with only a garlanded photo of our son,” Mr. Singh told TV9 Bharatvarsh.
“Therefore, we urge a revision of the NOK definition. It should be determined how much dependency there is if the martyr’s wife remains with the family,” he added.
Captain Singh’s mother emphasized their desire for the government to reconsider the NOK rules to prevent other parents from suffering similarly.
What are the NOK rules?
Next of kin rules designate a person’s closest relatives or legal representatives. According to Army regulations, if something happens to a service member, the ex-gratia amount is given to the NOK, similar to a bank nominee. When a cadet or officer joins the Army, their parents or guardians are recorded as NOK. However, once they marry, their spouse’s name replaces the parents’ names as the NOK.
Captain Singh was posted with the 26 Punjab as a medical officer in the Siachen Glacier area. On July 19, 2023, a short circuit caused a fire in an Indian Army ammunition dump around 3 am. Captain Singh noticed a fibreglass hut engulfed in flames and immediately acted to save those trapped inside. He successfully rescued four to five individuals, but the fire soon spread to a nearby medical investigation room.
Captain Singh re-entered the blazing structure. Despite his efforts, he was trapped inside and could not escape the inferno, ultimately losing his life.
He was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest gallantry award. Captain Singh’s wife, Smriti, and his mother received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 5.
