“Agniveer Akshay Laxman Gawate: Remembering a Hero’s Sacrifice at Siachen Glacier”
In a somber turn of events, Agniveer Akshay Laxman Gawate, a young soldier hailing from Pimpalgaon Sarai in Buldhana district of Vidarbha, lost his life at the Siachen Glacier after complaining of uneasiness. Gawate, at the tender age of 22, became the first casualty in the line of active duty since the initiation of the Agnipath recruitment scheme. The precise cause of his untimely death is still under investigation.
Gawate’s life was tragically cut short during his service at a forward post in the challenging terrains of Siachen Glacier. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel who administered CPR for 45 minutes, his life could not be saved, as confirmed by an official report to the state government.
Agniveer Akshay Laxman Gawate had embarked on his journey with the Indian Army through the Agniveer recruitment on December 30, 2022. He served the nation with dedication and valor for nine months and 21 days, leaving behind his grieving parents and a younger sister.
The Indian Army, in acknowledgment of Gawate’s supreme sacrifice, paid tribute to him through an official statement, which read, “General Manoj Pande COAS and all ranks of the Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of Agniveer (operator) Gawate Akshay Laxman, in the line of duty, in the unforgiving heights of Siachen. Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”
Gawate’s sacrifice will be duly honored, and he will be accorded all honors as a “battle casualty.” As per the entitlements of Agniveers, his family will receive Rs 48 lakh as insurance, Rs 44 lakh as ex-gratia, and full pay for the unserved period of his four-year term, which includes the ‘Seva Nidhi’ component.
However, it is worth noting that unlike ‘regular’ soldiers, the family of Agniveer Akshay Laxman Gawate will not receive family pension or ex-servicemen benefits. This distinction has drawn criticism from some quarters regarding the Agnipath scheme.
Major Navdeep Singh (retd), a practicing high court lawyer, expressed his concerns, stating, “In all other services, death in an operational area would result in liberalized family pension equal to the last pay drawn and lifelong service benefits to the family. Nothing in the case of Agniveers.”
Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd) added his voice to the conversation, highlighting the disparity. He remarked that if a ‘regular’ soldier had died alongside Gawate in Siachen, their family would have received all the benefits for the “same task, same threat, and in the same service.” He questioned whether India should be in a position to withhold these benefits, emphasizing the need for equity in recognizing the sacrifices of all its soldiers.
