The 24th Annual Welfare Meeting of Indian Ex-servicemen Welfare Organization in Nepal (IEWON) concluded. Organized by the Defense Wing, Embassy of India, under the Chairmanship of Ambassador of India to Nepal Ranjit Rae, the meeting was attended by senior officials of Government of Nepal, led by Mahesh Prasad Dahal, Defence Secretary, delegation from India led by Prabhu Dayal Meena, Secretary Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, and                       Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar, VSM Director General DC&W, Indian Army, Col                         Man Raj Singh Mann, Defence Attaché and officers from Embassy of India, and Secretaries of Indian District Soldier Boards in Nepal.

According to a press release issued by Ruby Jaspreet Sharma Second Secretary  (PIC) & Secretary, BPKF, IEWON is functioning under the aegis of Defence Wing, Embassy of India, and is responsible for the welfare of all the Nepal domiciled Government of India pensioners. There are approx 90,000 Indian Army Ex-servicemen and 36,000 Para Military, and Civil Pensioners settled in Nepal. The Government of India has been looking after the welfare aspects of these veterans since 1947.

With an aim to review welfare projects being executed for the benefit of Nepal domiciled Government of India pensioners, consultations on wide ranging welfare issues with senior officials of Government of Nepal were organized. During their visit to Nepal from 16 to 21 May 2016, the delegation from India carried out a comprehensive study and appreciation of all welfare schemes being implemented for Nepal domiciled ex-servicemen. They also addressed an ex-servicemen rally at Pokhara and interacted with the veterans, disabled soldiers and war widows.  Earlier Lt Gen HJS Sachdev, PVSM, AVSM, SM, ADC, DGAR had also visited Nepal from 11 to 16 Apr 2016 to assess welfare issues of Assam Rifles pensioners.  

“The pension and welfare initiatives extended to pensioners in Nepal are exactly the same as those applicable for pensioners in India. The implementation of the OROP (One Rank One Pension) has also started simultaneously in Nepal. The recently concluded IEWON conference has been a huge success, made possible by the encouraging participation of concerned officials of the Government of Nepal, and Government of India. It is indeed an apt exhibition of the resolve of the Government of India in ensuring the well-being of its Nepal Domiciled Veterans,” said a press release.