KATHMANDU: Eleven Nepalis have lost their lives while serving in the Russian army, and the details of their salaries and benefits remain unclear.
Recruitment companies charge Nepali youths between Rs 900,000 to Rs 1.4 million to join the Russian army, promising better pay and perks. Even retired Nepal Army soldiers are joining the Russian army, Nepalis currently residing in Russia say. However, Nepali authorities do not have any information about the pay and perks of Nepalis working in the Russian army.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai said the government doesn’t have any information about the pay and perks that Nepalis in the Russian army get. The government also doesn’t have exact information on how many Nepalis currently serve in the Russian army.
Family members of those serving in the Russian army claim Nepali youths are offered a monthly salary of approximately Rs 60,000 during training and 195,000 roubles, approximately Rs 300,000, upon completion of the training. The period is generally of three to six months. Hari Aryal (23) of Mankhu in Waling Municipality-14 of Syangja, who lost his life in Russia, had paid Rs 900,000 to a recruitment company to join the Russian army, according to Aryal’s sister-in-law Ambika. “We knew that he joined the Russian army only after we got the news of his demise. We know nothing about the salary and other facilities that he was offered,” she added.
Sources say recruitment agents are enticing youth by stating that they would be able to get Russian passports and bring their families to Russia after one of year service in the army.
Aryal lost his life less than three months after joining the Russian army. Family members are clueless about the salary and facilities because they don’t tell the family that they have joined the army. Some go out of contact after joining the army. The service term is also not clear as some claim they are offered a contract of five years, while others maintain the service contract is for one year only.
Sources say recruitment agents are enticing youth by stating that they would be able to get Russian passports and bring their families to Russia after one of year service in the army. Likewise, they are told that they have a life insurance policy of about Rs 18 million.
Labor expert Ganesh Gurung says the death of Nepalis while serving in the Russian army in the hope of getting better wages is causing irreparable loss to the state. “The government should secure compensation for the families of the deceased from the Russian government. The Nepali embassy in Moschow must raise this matter with the Russian authorities,” he added.
Due to limited opportunities at home, Nepali youths have been taking jobs in risky areas. Ten Nepalis were killed by terrorists in Iraq in 2005. Likewise, 14 Nepalis lost their lives in a bomb explosion by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2016. A few months ago, 10 Nepalis died during Hamas attack in Israel.
Representative Image. (Photo: Getty Images)
