Captain Anshuman Singh made a great sacrifice for the nation while rescuing fellow soldiers from a fire at Siachen Glacier.
On July 5, Captain Singh was honored with the Kirti Chakra posthumously for his bravery, which was received by the Captain’s wife Smriti.
Captain Singh’s parents shared in an interview that their daughter-in-law, Smriti, received the award and took his photo album, clothes, and other personal items to her home in Gurdaspur, Punjab. Highlighting their plight, the Captain’s parents have called for improvements in NOK norms, an issue brought to light by their poignant experience.
The parents also said that during the ceremony at Keerthi Mandapam, they were sitting close to their daughter-in-law but Smriti did not talk to them.
Captain Anshuman, who was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra for his bravery, had been married for only five months. His father’s poignant statement highlights an important issue of the criteria for defining “Next of Kin” (NOK) in such cases.
The Captain’s parents said that their daughter-in-law left them right after the “Terahvi” and she also changed her address. According to Captain’s father, the family’s suffering has been further compounded by the current rules, which have left them with minimal support. They also said that, they could not even touch the “Kirti Chakra”.
His parents has stated these concerns to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking a reassessment of the NOK criteria. They advocate for a reassessment of the compensation and support systems to ensure that the families of martyrs, who make the ultimate sacrifice, receive appropriate recognition and support.
As Captain Anshuman’s family seeks changes in NOK norms, they hope that their experience will lead to meaningful reforms that will prevent others from facing similar difficulties.
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