Ex-Army Conference-2080 launched from Itahari

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 17: 'Ex-Army Conference-2080' of the Nepali Army has formally begun from Itahari in Sunsari district of Koshi Province. 

Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Prabhu Ram Sharma formally inaugurated the conference in the Itahari-based Eastern Division Headquarters on Thursday. The conference will be held in a three-phase.  

Addressing the ceremony, General Sharma said that ex-soldiers are leading a disciplined life as representative characters of the Nepali Army and are playing an important role as a bridge between the local people and the army, and informing the society about the remarkable works done by the army.

CoAS Sharma suggested that by following the institutional values and beliefs of the organisation, the knowledge, skills and experience gained during military service should be applied for the development and upliftment of the community and society and play a leadership role in the society in times of need, including disasters.

The General said that in accordance with the policy of expansion and effective management of welfare services for the benefit of the serving and retired soldiers from the NA Welfare Fund collected from the blood and sweat of the entire ranks of the Nepali Army.   

Gaurav Tandul, Chief Executive Officer of the NA Welfare Board and retired Lieutenant General, informed about various services and facilities being conducted for ex-soldiers by the conference and the NA Welfare Fund.

According to Directorate of Public Relations and Information of the Army Headquarters, 87,200 ex-armies are enjoying pensions after resigning/retiring from the service while 16,211 families are receiving the pensions.

The army has been conducting various programmes of education, health, skills and self-employment and services and concessions to improve the living standards of the beneficiaries. The number of beneficiaries receiving services including health and education from the NA Fund is more than 1 million.

It was informed on the occasion that the NA Welfare Fund has a fund of Rs. 82.66 billion. 

At the ceremony held in Itahari, 93-year-old corporal Ganga Bahadur Katwal of Sunsari and late corporal Dilli Bahadur Khatri's wife Bhim Kumari Luintel Khatri were honoured. 

Apart from Itahari, Ex-army Conferences were also held in Dhankuta, Gaighat of Udayapur, Charaali (Jhapa), Panchthar and Okhaldhunga. In  Charali, Jhapa, a two-day health camp was also organmised.  

According to the Directorate of Public Relations and Information of the Army Headquarters, in the second phase, the conference will be held in Bharatpur (Chitwan) and Trishuli (Nuwakot) under Central Division Headquarters on February 23.

Similarly, the third and last session of the Conference will be held on March 17, 2024, at the Valley Division Headquarters in the participation of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok and Sindhupalchok districts' ex-soldiers. 

Meanwhile, our district correspondent from Hile, Dhankuta stated that the Ex-Army Conference-2080 orgainsed at Shree No. 3 Brigade Headquarters, Hile, Dhankuta, concluded on Thursday. 

The conference for the ex-army men was held on the premises of the Brigade Headquarters in Dhankuta targeting four districts of Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Dhankuta itself. 

The conference was held and concluded in the presence of the Chief of the Brigade and Brigadier General Ramkaji Rapa on Wednesday.

 According to the Nepali Army, the conference was attended by 615 ex-army personnel from the four districts. On the occasion, different cultural dances and parades were performed.