Cash for Nepal’s child soldiers draws flak

Nepal’s child soldiers are in the news again —this time due to the government’s decision to provide cash incentives to them.

Updated on: Nov 1, 2012, 23:52:40 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal’s child soldiers are in the news again —this time due to the government’s decision to provide cash incentives to them.

The Baburam Bhattarai-led Maoist-Madhesi coalition had recently announced an allocation of NRs 200,000 (Rs125,000) to each of the 3,000-plus child soldiers disqualified from the Maoist Peoples’ Liberation Army.

On Thursday, chairman of opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) Jhalanath Khanal slammed the government move, which will cost the country NRs 60 crore (R35.5 crore).

In a statement the former prime minister termed the decision as violation of international norms on human rights, state-sponsored corruption and misuse of state exchequer.

The Maoist child soldiers who were found to be minors during a UN-led verification process in 2007 after signing of the peace deal were discharged from barracks in early 2010.

Feeling left out despite spending years in the Maoist army during the civil war, these child soldiers have been demanding better incentives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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