22 Chait, Kathmandu. Commander-in-Chief Ashokraj Sigdel has said that the work of expanding the network of ex-servicemen to the ward level will be carried out rapidly. Speaking at the ‘Nepali Army Bhupu Sainik Sammelan 2082’ program held in the Midwest Pritna Headquarters Butwal on Sunday, Chief of Army Staff Sigdel said that the network of ex-servicemen will be expanded to the ward level.

The Welfare Board of the Nepali Army has been working to create and expand a network to bring the welfare works across the country under one umbrella. Based on the number of beneficiaries, the campaign to expand patriotism to the ward level as a national network will be carried out rapidly, said Sigdel.

It is said that the ex-servicemen’s conference which started this time with the motto of ‘ex-servicemen’s reunion, welfare of the beneficiaries and sustainability of the fund’ has renewed the enthusiasm, energy and enthusiasm of the ex-servicemen.

Chief of Army Staff Sigdel said that Nepali Army has been making an incomparable contribution to keep Nepal’s independence, sovereignty, geographical integrity, independence and national unity intact since history.

Chief of Army Staff Sigdel said that military discipline, military chain of command, apolitical character of the organization, sense of unity and unbroken focus on achieving organizational goals will make military history more glorious.

Keeping in mind the phrase ‘Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhay’, the existing welfare facilities in the Nepali Army are being decentralized, transparent, result-oriented and self-reliant, and the work is being continued to improve the living standards of the beneficiaries and to expand the maximum access of the beneficiaries in areas such as education, health, self-employment and skill development.

Chief of Army Staff Sigdel said that there is a plan to further expand health facilities according to the needs and demands of the beneficiaries.

Sigdel said that the welfare board has been instructed to give priority to income-generating programs while remaining within the scope of the existing laws and regulations, and also paying attention to creating additional policies if necessary.

It is said that through the Military Welfare Fund, the establishment and physical construction of a military school in Nepalgunj and a Nepali Army engineering study institute in Kharipati in Bhaktapur are being done. Similarly, a detailed study is being done for setting up a 10 MW solar power project in Sainamaina, Kapilvastu.

There is a plan to gradually expand the canteen service operating within the Kathmandu Valley to the unit and unit levels.

Established from home to abroad

Commander-in-Chief Sigdel said that the Nepali Army is known as an established organization from home to abroad. He said that the role played by the Nepali Army in the defense of the country’s sovereignty, including internal security, development, and disaster management, has made a significant contribution.

Similarly, explaining that the Nepali Army is well-known internationally for peacekeeping, he said, ‘The Nepali Army is established as a reliable and respected organization at home and abroad.’

Stating that the Nepali Army played an excellent role in ensuring that the recently concluded general elections were conducted in a fear-free and safe environment, Chief of Army Staff Sigdel said, ‘The high professional efficiency, professional character and work of the Nepali Army has now been praised everywhere.’

Effect of Reduction in Number of Missions on Welfare Fund

For the continuation of the welfare work, it is necessary to have sustainability in the income source of the fund. Through the economical and transparent use of the welfare fund, the sustainability of the fund and the continuity of the service effect come.

However, in recent times, the reduction in the number of peacekeepers’ missions is said to have affected the welfare fund. “With the reduction in the number of peacekeeping forces, there have been challenges in running and sustaining the welfare office,” said Chief of Staff Sigdel.

In addition to this, it is said that there has been a challenge in the welfare work due to the huge decline in interest income from term deposits.

Why military conference?

Since 2070, the Nepali Army has been holding ex-servicemen conferences. With the aim of reuniting around 90,000 retired soldiers, the Soldier Welfare Fund has been organizing an ex-serviceman conference.

This conference, which will be conducted once in the tenure of every Commander-in-Chief, has been divided into three phases. This program is conducted throughout the country in three years.

Rajaram Basnet, Assistant Rathi and Spokesperson of the Nepal Army, says that this program will awaken solidarity between ex-soldiers and current soldiers as they will be ‘once a soldier, a soldier for life’.

It is said that such programs will add energy to life, share joys and sorrows, inform about military welfare programs and also collect suggestions for improvements to be made in the future.

This conference has been addressing welfare needs such as education, health, self-employment, re-employment and housing to improve the economic, social and physical living standards of Bhupu soldiers and single women and dependent families.

Through this kind of conference, building and mobilizing a network of BHU soldiers and single women dedicated to the army, creating an atmosphere of cooperation between the regular army and BHU soldiers for mutual benefit, as well as direct interaction and discussion between BHU soldiers and the commander-in-chief, has proved to be a milestone.

It is estimated that 33,000 people from Lumbini, Gandaki, Madhesh and Bagmati provinces will be present at the planned Bhupu Sainik Conference this year. This program, which started from the third week of Chait, will be conducted in four stages till May 4th.

This year it will be held in Ruppandehi, Dang, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum East, Rukum West, Salyan, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Palpa, West Navalparasi, East Navalparasi under the Midwestern Region.

It will be organized in Kaski, Myagdi, Mustang, Manang, Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun under the western division and Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari under the middle eastern division.

Last year, the first phase was held in Sudurpaschim Pritna and North West Pritna and the districts under it.