2003 terror attack martyr's family awaits govt compensation for 18 years in UP's Lucknow

Martyr Vivek Saxena's family has been waiting for 18 years to receive compensation from the Uttar Pradesh government.

While the government talks about providing all kinds of facilities to the martyred soldiers, Savitri Saxena, the mother of Shaurya Chakra winner martyr Assistant Commandant Vivek Saxena, is still waiting for the ex gratia compensation. For 18 years, despite constant correspondence, she has not received any benefit. On January 8, 2003, Vivek Saxena was martyred while fighting militants in the Chandel district of Manipur.The family of the martyr lives in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. For Vivek's indomitable courage, he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra and the Police Medal. The martyr's father was a flight lieutenant. Vivek's brother Rajiv is in the Indian Air Force but the martyr's mother has neither received ex gratia nor village society land from the government.After completing his studies, Vivek Saxena joined the army and went on to work for the Intelligence Bureau(IB) on January 4, 1999. After working with the IB for some time, on July 22, 2000, he joined the Border Security Force(BSF) and became famous for his work in Manipur during his deployment. Vivek was martyred during 'Operation Jwala' which lasted for 7 days.The martyr's mother said, “If such treatment happens, will any mother send their child to the army?” “Till now my son has not been given any government honour. When we do not get any help from the government, what will we do by keeping the medal?” she added.The martyr's mother also accused the government officials of not giving them land.“The officials said that we are not residents here, so we cannot get help from the government. Whereas we have lived in Lucknow since 1967. My child was also born here. He studied here from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Lucknow and then went on to join the army. The dead body of my martyr son also came to Lucknow and the cremation also took place here. At that time, Mayawati was in power but ever since four governments have changed, and we have not received any help,” said Vivek Saxena's mother.According to the martyr's brother Ranjit Saxena, there are government officials who are not ready to accept the fact that their mother is a resident of Lucknow. Due to which the family members have to keep visiting the government offices. According to Ranjit, the Manipur government also refused any help due to a lack of funds.The administration is refusing to say anything, citing the matter as being sensitive and related to the army. Surprisingly, along with financial help for the family of the martyr, there is also a provision of land and a job for a member of the family, but none of these has been received by this family either.