‘We always discouraged him from joining Army’: Family bids adieu to fallen Agniveer

Gawte, who served for over nine months died on October 21 at the Siachen Glacier after complaining of uneasiness. While he is the first casualty since the Agnipath recruitment scheme began, the actual cause of his death is still not known.

According to the family, Akshay has been passionate about joining the Indian Army since he was in Class 10. As part of preparations, Akshay had taken to running and also enrolled in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). He was recruited under the Agniveer scheme three months ago after he completed graduation. Akshay underwent training at the Nashik Artillery Centre, and after a 15-day break, he was posted in Siachen.

“My wife and I were very worried about him and would regularly speak to him. We always discouraged him from joining the Army, fearing that if anything happened to him, what would we do in our old age? Our biggest fear came true… we lost our only son at such a young age,” said his 51-year-old father who is a farmer.

Calling Akshay smart and bright, his maternal uncle Ganesh Ghube said he was much loved in school and college.

“His teachers, friends and other students came to pay tributes to him on Monday. People from neighbouring villages also came in large numbers,” Gubhe said.

According to Laxman, the family is proud of their son, however, no compensation can fill his void. Giving details of the compensation, Additional Directorate General of Public Information posted on social media, “As per the terms of engagement of Agniveers, emoluments authorised to a deceased Battle Casualty will comprise: non Contributory insurance sum amounting to Rs 48 lakh, Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer (30 per cent), with equal matching contribution by the govt, and interest there on, ex gratia of Rs 44 Lakh, pay of balance tenure from date of death, till completion of four years (more than Rs 13 lakh), contribution of Rs 8 lakh from Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund and immediate financial assistance of Rs 30,000 AWWA.”