Kathmandu, July 21:

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Girija Prasad Koirala visited the headquarters of the Nepali Army (NA) today. “Koirala directed the NA to inform the people about the Military Welfare Fund and its activities,” the Nepali Army’s Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) said in a press release

Briefing Koirala at the headquarters, the NA said that the welfare fund had a bank balance of Rs 11.09 billion. The fund was established in 1975. The NA told Koirala that it has decided to increase the monthly allowance of each soldier participating in a peace mission by $25. This is the second time that Koirala has visited the NA headquarters for a briefing in two weeks. In the “situational briefing” two weeks ago, Koirala was apprised of the NA’s “operation,” according to a senior army officer.

Lieutenant-general Kul Bahadur Khadka briefed Koirala on the “importance of the Military Welfare Fund,” the DPR said. Koirala was told that over 5 lakh people have been benefiting from the fund. Koirala also observed various welfare programmes being organised for families of soldiers.