Chitwan, June 1: The daily allowance for divers working in the Armed Police Force (APF), who undertake the risky task of rescuing individuals from deep rivers and lakes, is only Rs 200.
This low compensation has raised concerns regarding the adequacy of their incentive allowance, especially given the risks involved in their work during water-related disasters and accidents. There are significant issues regarding the training and essential equipment for these divers, leading to a decline in interest in the profession.
The limited number of divers currently employed are reportedly leaving the field due to inadequate support.
These issues came up during the inauguration of a training course for divers in Chitwan today. Deputy Inspector General of Armed Police Anjani Prasad Pokharel emphasized the need to enhance the morale of these individuals who risk their lives in challenging situations.
In response to the divers’ concerns, Chitrasen Adhikari, Acting Chief of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, pledged to provide three high-quality, well-equipped life jackets. He also expressed the municipality’s willingness to establish a procedure for increasing the incentive allowance for divers engaged in life-saving operations.
Chief District Officer of Chitwan, Ganesh Aryal, said that divers play an important role in river-related disasters and emphasised the need to boost the morale of professionals who work at risk.
Similarly, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhan Bahadur Baniya, Chief of the Armed Police Force Nepal, 17th Battalion Headquarters Chitwan, informed that participants would be trained in swimming pools and the Narayani River during the 10-day training programme.
Starting today, a 10-day refresher training has begun in Kurintar, Chitwan, for 10 ‘divers’ under the Armed Forces Nepal, Gadhimai Battalion.
In Nepal, the first group of 25 Armed Police Force personnel was sent to Bangladesh in 2068 BS for diver training. The Armed Police Force currently has 16 divers, who have been regularly trained at the Disaster Management Training Centre in Kurintar.
Armed police trained from this institution are providing ‘diver’ services to other provinces as needed. According to the armed police, due to the shortage of divers in Nepal, even now there is a necessity to spend nearly a month bringing ‘divers’ from abroad to search for ‘bodies’.
