Move to UK by Ghurka soldiers triples in two years

August 05 2009 by Rebekah Nahai

Dharan gets green light for UK immigration

New UK immigration rules may trigger a mass exodus of British Ghurka soldiers from Dharan, Nepal, endangering the town’s economy.

About 20% of Dharan’s population consists of British Ghurka ex-servicemen. The UK has recruited from the town since 1953 and paid £60m in pensions last year to Nepalese ex-soldiers.

The impact of the pensions can be seen in the town’s paved roads, big houses and central market.

The UK government passed an initiative in May this year which enables 10,000 more Ghurka ex-servicemen to apply for UK visas.

It is not known how many will take the visa opportunity. But Dharan-based local government administrator Ganesh Khatiwada says the number of Ghurkas applying for UK settlement has tripled over the last two years.

There are fears about the impact the emigration will have on Dharan's economy.

Col Jeremy Ellis, director of Nepal’s Ghurka Welfare Scheme, says: “If the Gurkhas leave town, there is no question that Dharan is going to suffer hugely.

“It will have an impact on the town's development, social and economic sector. Without a doubt, the local government is going to face a hard time without the Gurkhas here.”

But older generations of former soldiers may find permanent UK immigration too daunting.

Ex-serviceman Krishna Rai says life in the UK will be too hard without family support. “We are going there only for our children's future,” he says.

“Old Gurkhas want to return to Nepal to finish our lives. We don't want to die in the UK.”

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