Insurance coverage for APF in offing

KATHMANDU: Armed Police Force (APF) personnel will now be covered by accident insurance. As plans go, the employees will now have to pay a premium from their monthly salary towards a non-life accident insurance.

A decision to this effect was announced here today by the APF.

Announcing the decision amid a special function organised here to mark the 9th APF Day, Inspector General of Police, Sanat Kumar Basnet, said, "The new provision will come into effect beginning today for the benefit of thousands of APF personnel serving the nation".

The provision will cover the incumbent, retired as well as those who have attained martyrdom. The APF Welfare Service Centre (WSC) is entrusted with the responsibility of managing the fund.

IGP Basnet also unveiled that a 'welfare trust' would be set up at the regional level to provide financial support to needy APF employees. "Besides, the WSC is mulling over providing residential facilities to needy servicemen with a nominal fee,” he said.

The proposed package programme is expected to bolster up the morale of APF officers and staffers to better serve the nation.

On the occasion, Basnet praised the APF personnel for their commendable contribution in supporting peace both at the national and international level.

Basnet, meanwhile, said the UN was positive towards their request in establishing a regional-level UN Training Centre for South Asia in Nepal and the government had already agreed in principle to translate the vision into reality.

He said that the contribution of the SAARC member countries to the UN peacekeeping mission was unrivaled by any other regions in the world.

APF officers expressed their commitment on the occasion to get themselves updated and reformed as per the exigencies of time.

A host of high-ranking APF officials reassured that they would respect human rights and execute their responsibility towards the nation.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister duo Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and Sujata Koirala,Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal and Home Secretary Dr Govinda Prasad Kusum had delivered their messages on the occasion of the 9th APF Day.

Letters of appreciation, cash prizes and certificates were given away to the meritorious officers and personnel. Certificates and mementos were also given away to school children. The children, who are the siblings of APF personnel were awarded for their outstanding performances and for exhibiting artistic talents and sportsmanship at schools.