Nation Development

Forever concerned with the well being of the nation, the Nepali Army gladly supports Nepal's quest for development. Today, it is considered as one of the most cost-effective and dedicated bodies for national development in Nepal. The Nepali Army has been utilizing its trained manpower and resources in support of national progress for many decades.

Infrastructure Development

The Army has been instrumental in opening up remote areas through rugged mountainous terrain with a large number of road and bridging projects. The selfless sacrifices of Army personnel and its institutional drive and integrity have made it possible for national planners to maximize the benefits from limited resources. The Nepali Army has played an important role in developing road networks in remote and rugged areas. Listed below are some of the roads developed by the Nepali Army:

Nature Conservation

Though small in area, Nepal, as a result of varied geographical conditions is blessed with very diverse flora and fauna. Today, forests occupy 25.4% of the land area of Nepal, but deforestation is rampant. FAO estimates that Nepal lost about 2640 sq km of forest cover between 2000 and 2005. In this bleak scenario, the protection of forests and their biodiversity is a great challenge to Nepal. Hence the Nepali Army was called upon to meet this challenge in 1975 with a mission to protect endangered species, plants and the natural heritage. Since then, the Nepali Army has been responsible for the protection of 12 out of the 22 protected forests. 12 Battalions and Independent Companies with some 6,778 troops protect forest areas measuring some 9,767 sq km. The impact of the mobilization of the Army is very visible in the rhino census in Chitwan National Park. In the late 1960s, according to the releases of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, the total rhino count was less than a hundred individuals. With the efforts of the Army in protecting the Chitwan National Park, backing the Rhino project, the 1994 count estimated about 466 individuals and this figure increased further to 544 individuals in 2000. The Department credits anti poaching operations for the rapid rise in the numbers. However, the demands of internal security duties constrained the conservation efforts of the Nepali Army and as a result the numbers of rhinos in Chitwan National Park fell to 372 individuals according to the census of 2005. With the improvement in the internal security scenario and consequent enhanced conservation efforts of the Army, the rhino population has shown some recovery and is now estimated at 446 individuals. The graph displays the total rhino count in Nepal, highlighting the growth since the deployment of the Nepali Army and the drop in numbers when the Army efforts have been constrained.

The table shows the current deployment of the Nepali Army in the conservation of nature:

The main responsibilities of the Nepali Army in the conservation of nature have been broadly outlined as follows:

1. Protection duties for Nature Conservation:

   1. Patrolling inside National Park and Wild Life Reserves.
   2. Controlling encroachment, illegal poaching and deforestation.
2. Support in Nature Conservation Research Works:

   1. Providing manpower in counting wildlife census.
   2. Providing necessary information regarding nature conservation
   3. Supporting rehabilitation of wild species
3. Social Services:
   With the aim of winning the hearts and minds of the people and to generate their awareness towards nature conservation, the Army has been providing the following social services:

   1. Massive afforestation.
   2. Repair and renovation of schools, shrines, assist health centers in buffer zones and within National Parks and Wild Life Reserves.
   3. Medical care
   4. Water supply
   5. Support in construction of bridges, short stretched roads.

4. Disaster Management:
   The Nepali Army by virtue of location and organization is able to rapidly come to the assistance of the victims of calamities. .

5. Human Resources Development:
   Preparation and provision of trained manpower for the Nature Conservation education, training in Buffer Zones, National Parks and Wildlife Reserves.

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   Rehabilitation Center

   

   The internal conflict which raged for over a decade in Nepal has left a lasting wound. Thousands of lives were lost and thousands have been left disabled. During the conflict, various hospitals provided the much needed medical support. However, little follow up was possible after discharge. Thus there is no reliable data on those wounded, disabled or their degree of disability. Some of these victims have been deprived of their livelihood. The lack of data has been an obstacle in the formulation of any policies in this regard.

   A comprehensive nationwide rehabilitation program is required in the country. Such a program should include physical rehabilitation, psychological rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation and social awareness programs. Realizing this need of the nation, the Nepali Army has established a national rehabilitation center with the help of the Government of Nepal. This center seeks to cater to all the above mentioned areas. The Army will be responsible for running this center. The main purpose of the center is to have the following:

   • Surveillance Team
   • Physiotherapy unit
   • Artificial limb and appliance workshop
   • Psychotherapy unit
   • Paraplegic home
   • General ward-50 bedded (For amputees coming for prosthesis, disabled those need physiotherapy and orthosis).
   • Vocational training centre for various trade groups.

   Achievements to Date

   • The Nepali Army has provided 4.02 acre of land in Chhauni (valued at Rs 256 million). The Government has allocated Rs 30 million for construction of building.
   • The government has committed a further Rs 22 million for establishment of a physiotherapy unit and the necessary furniture.
   • The Nepali Army has also provided Rs 2 million for office furnishing and air conditioning of the physiotherapy hall.

   Although tasks such as assisting development activities, conservation of nature, disaster management, etc have been viewed as secondary roles, the contributions of the Nepali Army in such areas are unparalleled in the country. In fact, the Army is actually viewed as the lead actor in many of these roles. Thus it would only be but fair to state that the Nepali Army is an indivisible and essential partner of the Nepalese people and society in many diverse areas.

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   Disaster Management

   

   The official definition of a disaster according to the Government of Nepal is a major incident which causes a serious disruption to life, arising with little or no warning, causing or threatening death or serious injury to, or rendering homeless, such numbers of persons in excess of those which can be dealt with by public services operating under normal procedures, and which calls for the special mobilization and organization of those services". The Government of Nepal has judiciously also added 'environmental degradation' as a disaster in the making.

   The Government of Nepal views the Nepali Army as an inseparable agency in Disaster Relief Operations. Examples of the particular suitability and capability of the armed forces to respond effectively to such incidents abound in Nepalese history. Furthermore, Nepal's status as a developing country does not justify the high costs of maintaining a separate disaster relief organization. Consequently, the Nepali Army plays a major role in providing emergency assistance to needy people all over the country - a role that has become even more important in the present context.

   Primary Roles Of The Nepali Army In Disaster Management

   Nepali Army has historically provided vital relief during floods, earthquakes, avalanches, fires, landslides, air and other transportation disasters. The primary roles of the Nepali Army in disaster relief are:

   • Search & Rescue Missions
   • Medical assistance & Evacuation, Air Rescue
   • Mass evacuation, flood control etc.
   
   Nepali Army to the rescue