Sharma who returned on Wednesday after visiting the training centers across the country said, “I met almost 800 ex-combatants undergoing training. Of them, only about 12 combatants are likely to quit the training if allowed.” [break]
They wanted to quit training just because of some physical and mental health problems, he added.
A meeting of the special committee has already decided to allow the combatants to quit training. But the meeting did not decide if the ex-combatants would be given any package if they quit the training half way.
As many as 40 of the total 1,442 ex-combatants undergoing training have expressed their wish to quit training.
According to sources, many ex-combatants are physically unfit for training, while some female combatants can´t continue training because they are pregnant. But coordinator Sharma said that about 16 ex-combatants have serious health problems and are under medical treatment, “They will soon be able to continue training after recovery,” said Sharma.
Regarding the pregnant women, Sharma said, “When we select married women, it is natural that we selected some pregnant women as well.” He said that only one woman combatants has tested positive for pregnancy. Sources, however, claimed that there are many female combatants undergoing training who are pregnant.
NA spokesperson Brigadier General Suresh Sharma said, “We don´t have any information about the pregnancy of female trainees.” He said that training is being undertaken smoothly in the seven training centers.
Sharma also said that the overall situation of the training is satisfactory as per the Nepal Army act and political agreements.
He said a decision would soon be taken on combatants who are unable to continue their training. It is also learnt that the combatants wishing to quit the training have demanded at least fifty percent of the retirement package given to those opting for voluntary retirement.
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