Royal Nepal Army recruits women

Kathmandu: For the first time in its history, the Royal Nepalese Army has inducted women officers into the force as combatants.

A group of 68 women and 147 men were formally commissioned as Second Lieutenants yesterday after completing an arduous training programme at the Royal Nepalese Army Academy at Karikpati in Bhaktapur, Major Sushil Dahal of the Public Relations Directorate at the RNA headquarters said.

"This is for the first time that women personnel have been recruited in the combatant category of the Royal Nepalese Army," Dahal said.

The RNA is encouraging women to enlist and aims to have women comprising five per cent of the force, he said.

Council of Ministers Vice-Chairman Kirtinidhi Bista, who presided over the passing out parade, asked the officers to use their skills to protect the "Motherland from the fire of terrorism."

Congratulating the women officers, Bista said women have been commissioned as officers with the objective of "promoting the rights of women".

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