Ghurkas and Surviving Family in UK
Moderator's Note
The first posts are from an old thread, which has been merged into an RFI posed in November 2011 and so may appears slightly out of order. The RFI was:
Quote:
I heard some scuttle that they guys were being treated shabbily by the UK with regards to pensions/retirements and options for citizenship. And also that the Gurkha program has ended. Any truth to this?
A news story I think is worthy of note.
Not being British, this is outside of my realm, but it seems like something that deserves some attention.
The UKs decision does not help Nepal
I think that in this case the agreement has always been clear and was designed so that BOTH UK and Nepal benefit. The UK would have a source of additional soldiers and Nepal would benefit in kind in many ways, but crucially one of which would be returning Gurkhas. Having large numbers of ex-soldiers returning with training, experience, language skills, trades, and money, there would be considerable benefit to Nepal as a State.
By allowing them to stay in the UK the popular perception is that we have helped them as individuals. That is correct, but we jeopardise the long term relationship with Nepal by not providing an enduring return for their investment.
British Gurkha's: what is the position?
I heard some scuttle that they guys were being treated shabbily by the UK with regards to pensions/retirements and options for citizenship. And also that the Gurkha program has ended. Any truth to this?
British Gurkha's: what is the position?
Created to facilitate a member's RFI (which soon appear first).
Gurkhas serving in British Army
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Misifus
I heard some scuttle that they guys were being treated shabbily by the UK with regards to pensions/retirements and options for citizenship. And also that the Gurkha program has ended. Any truth to this?
You are out of date.:wry:
In 2008 a campaign started to recognise the contribution of the Gurkha soldiers in British service after their retirement, it took off when an actress Joanna Lumley took up their cause and as HMG learnt to its cost she was indomitable:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8061342.stm
The UK then made a decision to allow Gurkhas and families to stay in the UK upon retirement. That is not without controversy as they have congregated in a few places:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15712930
To learn more on the campaign search on the BBC News website with Joanna Lumley as the search name.
Who are the Gurkhas?http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10782099
The size of the Gurkha contingent has shrunk a lot in the last fifteen years, principally after the UK left Hong Kong in 1997 and the last IISS figure was 3,500. Two infantry battalions, one in Brunei (rented to the Sultan) and one in the UK; plus several support companies and hundreds "beefing" up other units.
Note the Indian Army has ten times the number of UK Gurkhas (unable to readily find a number).