KIRAN CHAPAGAIN

KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Ethnic, dalit, Madhesi and women Maoist combatants will get top priority for integration into the national security forces, myrepublica.com has learnt.

The Special Committee on Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation will take a special political decision in this regard, says a confidential proposed plan of action on integration and rehabilitation.

“The idea behind giving priority to combatants with marginalized backgrounds is to make the national security forces more inclusive while carrying out the integration,” said a highly-placed source Wednesday on condition of anonymity. >>> More on this story

Nepaldalitinfo network adds:

As far as security forces sector is concerned, the most marginalized people in Nepal are no other than Dalits among all communities. Circumstances in the history of Nepal led the communities such as Thakuri/Ranas/Chhetris and ethnic groups of mongoloid origin to enjoy the security forces sector employment almost as their exclusive domain– be within Nepal or in Gurkha rifles of Indian and British Armies. Giving a top priority to Dalits for inducting them into Nepal Army, in proportion to their more than 15% share in the country’s population, is overdue for far too long. The present scenario may give a rare chance for the State to make Nepal Army an all inclusive national security agency. Women including Dalit women must get their fair share in all state machinery including security forces. Madhesis also deserve a larger pie in proportion to their population than what they have been getting thus far.