INDIAN ARMED FORCES EX-SERVICEMEN FROM NEPAL India has always been proud to have Nepalese as soldiers in her Forces and has made every effort to ensure that they are looked after and cared for in their twilight years. As of now, we have over 90,000 ex-servicemen residing in Nepal. The Government of India has made every effort to ensure that these ex-servicemen, their families and dependents are looked after in the best possible manner. To ensure this, the Government of India has established “The Indian Ex-Servicemen Welfare Organisation in Nepal (IEWON)” functioning within the Embassy of India under the chairmanship of Ambassador of India to Nepal. (a) Welfare Activities Welfare of ex-servicemen is undertaken in the remotest areas of Nepal where our brave ex-servicemen settle down to lead a quiet and contended retired life. It has been the endeavour of the Government of India to reach out to them wherever they may have chosen to reside. To this effect, we have District Soldier Boards (DSBs) functioning in various locations in Nepal, from Baitadi in the West to Ilam in the East. Senior ex-servicemen, who are Nepali, man the DSBs and help the welfare schemes reach those in need. For the purpose of disbursing pension, apart from the Military Wing of the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, two Pension Paying Offices function at Pokhara and Dharan. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are provided to ex-servicemen within Nepal. Each ex-servicemen is provided with a medicine pack once a year containing essential basic medicines with directions for usage. A sum of (Indian) Rupees 1.46 crores is expended on this account annually. For the next stage of his medical treatment, we have two Medical Inspection Rooms at Pokhara and Dharan each manned by a doctor. These facilities are equipped with X-Ray, Pathology Lab, ECG and such facilities. At Kathmandu, Medical Room is being readied. Presently the Indian embassy doctor visits MI Room and provides free treatment to the ex-servicemen. Besides, Indian Army Medical Welfare Teams visit Pokhara, Dharan and various DSBs for providing necessary treatment. Hundreds of cataract operations are performed, dentures made and spectacles issued to ex-servicemen and their dependents by these teams every year. In addition, the ex-servicemen can visit Army Hospitals in India for free treatment. Drinking Water Projects: The aim of the Drinking Water Project Scheme is to provide water to villages where ex-servicemen population is large. All required stores such as HDP pipes, CGI sheets and cement are provided for construction. Stores are transported to the road head nearest to the village from where it is further carried by the ex-servicemen themselves. The villagers through voluntary service subsequently execute the project on ground. So far 989 water projects have been implemented in various remote areas of Nepal. During the current year (2008-09) a sum of (Indian) Rupees 2.46 crores was spent on these projects. Educational Scholarships: To assist the ex-servicemen in educating their children, scholarships, each of Rs 1200.00 per annum for children upto class 8th and Rs 2000.00 per annum for children above class 8th and upto graduation, are provided. Each year a sum of Rs eight lakh ac is disbursed on this account. For those wards of ex-servicemen who undertake professional studies such as MBBS, BE, MBA, CA, LLM, MSc, Med, MA both in India and Nepal, special scholarships in addition to complete tuition fees, cost of books, etc are also provided. It has now been decided to include computer as a subject in higher education. As of now we have four students studying MBBS, four BE, two MA and one BCA in India. Scholarships to Wards of Those Killed in Action: This scholarship is provided to wards of those ex-servicemen who died in 1962, 1965, 1971 Operations and OP PAWAN, OP VIJAY, OP MEGHDOOT and Counter Insurgency Operations. The scholarship package includes complete tuition fees, boarding and lodging charge, school bus charges, books and stationery charges, cost of uniform and clothing etc. The expenditure is reimbursed on an annual basis by Army HQ. As of now 201 students are in receipt of such scholarships. During the year 2006-07 an amount of NRs 74.49 lakh was utilized for this scheme. Financial Assistance to Schools: Such assistance is provided to schools where the majority of children are wards of ex-servicemen, and is aimed at expansion and repair of existing school building, purchase of furniture, books, sports equipments etc. A sum of Rs 5.76 lakhs was spent on this account during the year 2007-08. Vocational Training Schools: Wards of ex-servicemen are trained in vocations in order to enhance their opportunities for employment, business etc. The courses conducted include stitching, knitting, typing (English & Nepali), English Language and computer training at selected places. National Defence Fund Package for the Next of Kin (NoK) of soldiers killed or disabled in action: Government of India has announced the following amounts for NOKs of those soldiers killed in action and also for those who were disabled during various operations since 1947:- (a) Rs 1,60,000.00 NC - Soldiers disabled and invalided out from the Army with disability element Army Central Welfare Fund: Ex-servicemen whose economic condition is very poor are being given financial assistance from Army Central Welfare Fund. The rates are as under:- (a) JCOs - Rs 6,400.00 NC (b) OR - Rs 4,800.00 NC Funeral Grant: Funeral Grant of Rs 3,200 NC is being paid to NOK of an ex-servicemen in the event of his death. National Defence Fund Package for NOKs of OP VIJAY Casualties: The following benefits of NDF have been received from Army HQ, New Delhi for NOKs of OP VIJAY casualties:- (a) Ex Gratia in lieu of grant from state Govt - Rs 8 lakh NC (b) Grant for Dwelling Units - Rs 8 lakh NC (c) Financial Assistance to Parents - Rs 1.92 lakh NC (d) Assistance for education of children - Rs 1.6 lakh NC per child These grants have been disbursed to 20 affected cases in Nepal. Welfare Project Buses: Four buses (one each at Kathmandu and Dharan and two buses at PPO Pokhara) have been procured for subsidized conveyance of ex-servicemen from various places to Pension Paying Offices and back. Nepal Bharat Maitri Vidhyalaya (NBMV): NBMV is run by PPO Pokhara in the PPO complex itself and is upto class X (presently upto class VIII). It was commenced in Jul 2000. It is now planned to be upgraded to class XII with boarding facilities in the ensuing years. The school follows the syllabus of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). A new building for the school has been sanctioned and the construction has commenced with Government of India's grant assistance. (b) Pension Payments in Nepal Historical Background: The Military Pension Branch of the Embassy of India is responsible for payment of pension and other dues to the Nepalese ex-servicemen and their families residing in Nepal. Prior to Independence in 1947, ex-servicemen and their families were drawing pension from border treasuries in India. After India’s independence the responsibility of pension payments was entrusted to the Indian Embassy. The first Military Attaché posted in 1949 took over the responsibilities thereafter. In 1950, some 300 disabled ex-servicemen drawing their pension from Pokhara Mal Adda (equivalent to a District Treasury) petitioned the Ambassador that they had not received their pensions for the last two years. The Military Attaché was tasked to set up a temporary camp at Pokhara so that these ex-servicemen could get their dues. Thus, the concept of pension payment camps in the interior areas came into being as it ensured timely payment of pension near the homes of the pensioner saving them money, time and effort to come to collect pensions. Pension Camps: Initially, temporary pension camps were established at Pokhara in 1955 and Dhankutta in 1959. These were converted into permanent pension paying offices in 1960. The Dhankutta camp then shifted to Dharan in 1968. Presently the Embassy also conducts 32 Seasonal Pension Paying Camps annually, in the interiors of Nepal, for the convenience of ex-servicemen. The Military Pension Branch, alongwith its offices at Pokhara and Dharan, caters to more than one hundred twenty two thousand defence and civil pensioners who have opted to draw their pensions in Nepal. Apart from pension payment, during pension paying camps it is also ensured that all requirements of the pensioners in terms of medical, educational scholarships, Army Group Insurance claims etc are dealt with under the concept of single window service thereby obviating the need for the pensioners to report at different places. In the last five years, pension disbursed to defence and civil pensioners who retired from India has been (in Indian Rupees): (a) 2003-04 - Rs 419.88 crore
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