Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri laid the foundation stone for the proposed Pension Paying Office (PPO) at Butwal in the presence of ex-Servicemen, family pensioners, and civil dignitaries of Nepal government and officials of Defense Wing, Embassy of India.

Colonel Man Raj Singh Mann, Defense Attaché, gave the introductory speech after which the Ambassador addressed the gathering, giving out the benefits of the upcoming PPO.  He also highlighted that this bond with the Ex-Servicemen contributes immensely to the bonhomie and strength of India-Nepal relationships.

According to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy, the proposed PPO is being established in the present District Soldiers Board (DSB), Butwal land, which was established in 1995, along with additional land allotted by Nepal government on 20 March 2017. 

The sanction for the PPO was accorded by Nepal government on 29 Jan 2004 and ‘in principle’ approval by Indian government was accorded on 30 Jun 2009. This PPO will benefit approx 45,000 Indian Army Gorkha pensioners and family pensioners in the region, in addition to the already existing PPOs at Pokhara, Dharan and MPB, Kathmandu, and will go a long way in serving the 1, 26,000 Ex-Servicemen and family pensioners in Nepal.