Pokhara, August 19
Nepali ex-servicemen who served in the Indian Army have urged Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth to initiate efforts to resume recruitment of Nepali youths under India’s Agnipath scheme.
The request was made during General Seth’s interaction with former Indian soldiers and their families at the Indian Pension Camp in Rambazar, Pokhara, on Wednesday.
Captain Gaj Bahadur Thapa, co-chair of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association Nepal and its Gandaki president, urged General Seth to raise the issue with the Nepal government.
“We have been raising our voice for recruitment. The friendship between Nepal and India will continue. You also need to raise this issue,” Thapa told Seth.
Thapa also raised concerns over pension problems faced by families of former Indian soldiers due to discrepancies in official documents. He said around 8,000 to 10,000 wives of former soldiers in Nepal were still unable to receive pensions because of documentation issues.
He urged the Indian Army chief to simplify the verification process, including by using photographs and biometric identification.
Agnipath recruitment halted since 2022
Recruitment of Nepali youths into the Indian Army under the traditional Gorkha recruitment system has remained suspended since India introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022.
Under the scheme, recruits, known as Agniveers, serve for four years, after which only 25 percent are eligible for permanent retention. The remaining 75 percent leave without a pension, receiving a one-time financial package.
The Nepal government has not allowed recruitment under the scheme, maintaining its reservations over the terms of Agnipath.
Former soldiers, however, have been campaigning for recruitment to resume, arguing that it would provide employment and military experience to Nepali youths while also contributing to remittance earnings.
“Many unemployed youths would be able to serve even for a short period, earn money and gain experience that could be useful in other countries as well,” Thapa said. “But with recruitment halted, many young people are going to the Gulf countries for work.”
Indian former soldiers recently held demonstrations in Pokhara demanding the resumption of recruitment under the Agnipath scheme.
Indian Army pledges continued support
Addressing the former soldiers and their families, General Seth said the Indian Army would continue to do everything possible for their welfare, healthcare and other facilities.
He described former soldiers as “living representatives” of India-Nepal relations and praised the contribution of Gorkha soldiers to the Indian Army.
“The relationship between the Indian Army and Gorkha soldiers is a proud history,” Seth said, praising their courage and dedication in wars and military operations.
Seth said efforts would be made to equip the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinic in Pokhara with additional modern medical equipment.
He also said the demand for a bus service between Sunauli and Gorakhpur was being considered. Such a service would make it easier for former soldiers to access ECHS and other healthcare facilities in India, he said.
A new ECHS polyclinic has also been opened in Kohalpur to serve former Indian soldiers and their families in western Nepal.
More than 60,000 former Indian soldiers and their family members receive pensions through the Pokhara pension camp, while the number across Nepal is estimated at around 120,000.
Former soldiers honoured
During the programme, former Gorkha soldiers, war widows and injured veterans were presented with medals, certificates of honour and mobility scooters.
Dilibahadur Thapa was awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for his bravery during Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kesh Bahadur Chhetri received the Shaurya Chakra, India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award, for his contribution during the same operation.
Seven soldiers were awarded the Sena Medal for courage and dedication during various military operations.
Thakur Prasad Poudel was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service in the Indian Army.
Nine retired senior soldiers were also presented with the Yoddha Seva Samman, while 10 wives and mothers of soldiers who died during various wars and military operations were honoured as Veer Naris.
