In the wake of recent news reports that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had assured to help the cause of British Gurkhas during his meeting with Tul Bahadur Pun VC in London, the British Ministry of Defense has announced an average hike of 19% to their service pensions.

Gurkha pensioners will benefit from an average increase of 19% to their service pension under new measures announced on Thursday, by Under Secretary of State for Defense Derek Twigg.

According to reports posted in the website of British MoD, the significant increase to the Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) is in line with changes to Indian Army pensions set by the Indian Pay Commission, and follows on from an increase of 7% announced earlier this year as part of the annual inflationary uplift. All Gurkha pensioners of the rank Warrant Officer Class 1 and below will benefit from the increase – representing 95% of all Gurkha pensioners.

Twigg also announced that the British Government will be conducting a review into how Gurkha Pensions are increased annually. The review will look at how best to measure the cost of living in Nepal, where an estimated 25,000 Gurkha pensioners live. Twigg said, “”I am delighted to be able to announce this substantial increase in pensions to retired Gurkhas in the Gurkha Pension Scheme. This increase will sustain Gurkha Pension Scheme payments at an appropriate level and demonstrates our continuing commitment to the retired Gurkha population in Nepal. The bravery and heroism of the Brigade of Gurkhas is world renowned and they are fully deserving of this reputation. Their continued significant contribution to operations around the globe has been and will continue to be greatly appreciated.”

The reports state that the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between Nepal, India and the UK established the linkage for pensions between British Army Gurkhas and those recruited to serve in the Indian Army.

A Gurkha Rifleman with 15 years service currently receives approximately £110 per month. This will rise to approximately £131 per month. The increased benefits to the Gurkha Pension Scheme have been included in the Gurkha Offer To Transfer to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme which was announced on 8 March 2007.

Meanwhile, Gurkha Ex-Servicemen Organisation (GAESO) has said that the hike is too little. Though they welcomed the decision terming it as yet another victory of their movement for equal rights to British Gurkhas, the GAESO has said that it will proceed with legal cases at British courts to attain equal rights at par with British soldiers.