Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 10:

The Royal Nepalese Army is building a rehabilitation centre for those soldiers and their families, who are injured during the fight against terrorism or in other circumstances, such as road mishaps. “The centre is being built to provide service in a sustainable way to soldiers, their families and even civilians,” said officials of the Directorate of Public Relations of the RNA. The centre will help soldiers — who are disabled due to injuries incurred while combating terrorism, various development activities or road accidents — return to normalcy for leading a decent life. “The centre’s aim is to provide skill development training to such soldiers in order to make their life easier after medical treatment,” according to the directorate. The centre, being constructed on a 33-ropani plot, will provide all physical, mental and professional rehabilitation. Victims will be provided with artificial limbs. They will get clinical and psychological treatment and will also get the opportunity to work as per their education level and technical skills.

“The purpose”, according to the directorate, “is to give the victims or paralyzed people their social, economic and professional freedom.” The centre is also expected to provide services to civil servants and other civilians on the basis of a fee system. It will be constructed in four phases: Artificial Limb and Appliances Centre (ALAC); Rehabilitation Centre; Cafeteria, and Landscaping and External Works. Chief of Army Staff, General Pyar Jung Thapa today laid the foundation stone of the centre at Itchangu in Chaunni. The centre will initially cater to the hundreds of soldiers, many of whom have been seriously injured in combat with Maoist insurgents since the RNA’s mobilisation in November 2001.