KATHMANDU, April 29: Army Chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung Sunday said the present structure of the Nepal Army is not only "unscientific and obsolete" but also "inefficient" stressing on the need for revamping the structure to make it more professional, inclusive and transparent.
Briefing the State Affairs Committee (SAC) of the parliament, Gurung said the restructuring of the national army was long overdue given the changed context and growing number of soldiers.
"The structure of NA was last revamped in 2022 BS when the total strength was just 18,000, now the total strength is more than 90,000," Gurung told the committee, "The structure of NA has remained unchanged despite the growth in the last 47 years."
The committee had summoned Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Bijaya Gachchhadar and Gurung to inquire about the plan on restructuring of the national army.
The plan presented to the committee seeks to better manage NA´s important departments like personnel, welfare, operations, intelligence, training and logistic/services in the changed context. In addition, the plan also seeks to increase the army´s logistic units in proportion to the growth in its size which in its current structure is designed to support just 45,000 soldiers.
As the existing structure offers a limited prospect of promotion for mid level officers, the plan proposes to add two posts of lieutenant general, six post of major general, ten post of brigadier general, 14 posts of colonel and 50 posts of lieutenant colonel.
´The restructuring plan will make the army of international model and make different departments compatible," read the proposed plan.
Speaking during the meeting, Defense Minister Gachhchadar said the national army should be inclusive and should be restructured in tune with the changing context.
After the presentation of the plan by Gurung, Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the task of restructuring of the army has been put in the backburner due to lack of a national security policy.
"The first priority is to formulate a national security policy and then simultaneously discuss restructuring of NA," he said.
Similarly, UCPN (Maoist) Politburo member Pampha Bhusal also stressed on the need of formulating the national security policy in the nation.
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