Gurkhasdukha Sir, It seems the contribution of the Gurkhas have finally been recognized. Significantly, a new pay agreement is to be implemented in July 1997. However, the real issue has been sidestepped. While new terms will bring Gurkha take-home pay into line with that of British soldiers, this leaves untouched the conditions of basic pay to which pension rates are tied. The pension rates remain unchanged. This is not even comparing their pensions to that of their British counterparts. It is obvious that British and Nepali blood continue to be valued differently. According to the British Military of Defence, the basic pay is kept equivalent to that of Indias in accordance with the tripartite agreement. Now is the time to re-adjust this agreement. Furthermore, if one looks at the number of Gurkhas permitted to gain the rank of Lt-Colonel and above, one can see that the tripartite agreement neither dictates all rules nor is it as binding as the British Military of Defence seems to imply. The new agreement is not enough. People should not be lulled into complacency. The blood, pain and dukha of those that came before and are to come, is at stake. Samel Tamang
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