The Gurkha families fighting for their pensions
Gurkhas who retired before 1997 receive far less than their British Army counterparts.
Indumati Thapa, 87, is among a group of widowed Gurkha spouses who find their pensions and benefits insufficient to cover daily living expenses. Her husband, a former Gurkha who served with the British in Southeast Asia, passed away in 2020.
While she receives a pension, Gurkhas who retired before 1997 receive significantly less than their British Army counterparts. Their pensions are calculated based on Nepalese living costs, not those of places like Reading, where thousands of Gurkhas have settled. Indumati states that her pension is so meager that she relies on friends' generosity and approximately £100 per week in benefits to cover her rent, bills, and food.
The government asserts that it "holds the distinguished service of the Gurkhas in the highest regard and remains firmly committed to supporting the welfare of Gurkha veterans and their families." However, many Gurkhas disagree and are advocating for increased pensions.
Indumati shares a small two-bedroom flat in central Reading with her friend, Devisara Rana. When asked about her life, with local Labour councillor Pratikshya Gurung translating, Indumati expressed feeling "let down a bit" and stated she "would be grateful if the pension was bigger than it is as that would make her living conditions and financial situation better."
Pratikshya Gurung believes that older Gurkha veterans and their wives have been failed by the British government. For those whose husbands fought for the British in the jungles of Malaya and Borneo in the 1950s and 60s, time is of the essence.
Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Central Reading, acknowledges this urgency. He and other MPs have been pressuring both the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government to improve pension rights for older Gurkhas. He is also working to ensure they and their families receive all necessary assistance. Many of these individuals, unable to read or write, depend on younger relatives to navigate a modern world vastly different from their homeland.
MP Matt Rodda emphasized, "It's so important we show our support for these elderly people. They served this country with distinction over decades and decades."
The Ministry of Defence reiterated its statement: "The government holds the distinguished service of the Gurkhas in the highest regard and remains firmly committed to supporting the welfare of Gurkha veterans and their families. We will continue to work with partners in both Nepal and the UK to ensure Gurkha veterans and their families receive the support and recognition they deserve."
Speaking with Indumati's close friend, Devisara Rana, whose husband and son have both passed away, Pratikshya again translated. Devisara expressed peace with the fact that all her worldly possessions fit into a bedroom no larger than 12 feet long by eight feet wide. Pratikshya conveyed that Devisara's sole wish now is to return to Nepal, but she fears she cannot afford the journey. "She doesn't know how long she has got to live but that however many days she does have left she wants to spend those days with her family," Pratikshya said. "She just wants to be able to go home one last time."