Kathmandu, Dec. 23, The government on Friday clarified that it would open a vacancy to recruit 3,000 Madheshis of all classes, castes and groups into the army under the existing inclusive policy.
Under the existing government policy, 55 per cent of the army vacancies are filled through open competition while the remaining 45 per cent are reserved for various disadvantaged groups.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, who is also Defence Minister, said at a press conference that vacancies for Madheshi people would be announced as per existing procedure of the Nepal Army through open competition.
A cabinet meeting on December 20 had decided to recruit 3,000 Madhehsis in the Nepal Army to make it more inclusive. The government has already endorsed the policy paper-2011.
"All Madheshi people from different class and castes including janajatis, dalits, marginalized and extremely backward people would have to abide by the norms of the army," DPM Gachchhadar said.
"This is not a bulk recruitment of Madhesis people in the army as everyone who applies for the vacancy would have to follow the norms of the army," Gachchhadar said.
The government would set up recruitment centres in the mountains, hills and the Terai regions. Each region will have a total of three, five and eight selection centres respectively for the post of soldiers.
Similarly, a person who applies for an officer level post can submit his/her application in heir respective division offices located in five development regions of the country, Gachchhadar said. There are altogether six division offices in five development regions including one in the capital.
Necessary budgets will be arranged from the Ministry of Finance which will be later given to the army headquarters from the Ministry of Defence to meet the economic burden to be added after the recruitment of 3,000 entrants.
The current strength of the army stands at 92,753. But its endorsed quota stands at 95,753 which is going to be filled with the recruitment of 3,000 Madheshis.
DPM Gachchhadar denied that the government was trying to establish a separate battalion for the Madheshis. "A separate army unit, however, will be named to reflect the glory of the Madhesh region
like Janaki, Gadimai or Simraungadh," he clarified.
Meanwhile, Minister for Irrigation and chairman of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party Mahendra Prasad Yadav said on Friday
that the decision of the government to recruit Madheshi youths in the Nepal Army (NA) could not be reversed.
Speaking at an interaction organized by Sambad Club here, he urged all the political parties to support the government’s decision.
Minister Yadav said that there was no need for further debate about the matter at present and asked the political parties not to exaggerate the matter as the decision was in favour of Madheshi community.
Political Advisor to the prime minister, Devendra Poudel said that the parties should support the recruitment as this decision would facilitate the peace and constitution writing processes.
"The collective recruitment of Madheshi community would make the army more inclusive," he said adding that the decision would pose no threats on the security of the country.
Leader of Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh KC said that the government’s decision for collective recruitment had raised serious concerns and that the recent activities of the government could slow down the peace and constitution writing processes.
Pradeep Gyawali, leader of CPN-UML said that the trend of UCPN-Maoist to sign agreements but hesitating to implement them had created hurdles in the peace and constitution writing processes.
The CPN-UML is against the decision of collective recruitment of the Madeshi youths in the army, he said.
Chairman of Nepal Tharuhat Party, Raj Kumar Lekhi asked the government to withdraw its decision as it was against the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
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