they receive less than those in the armed forces pension scheme because it was thought they would retire in nepal. the gurkhas are coming! cheering. but in 2009, after a high—profile campaign backed by the actress joanna lumley, most gurkhas were allowed to settle in the uk. many now say they're struggling to survive on pensions that don't meet the cost of living here. my counterpart gets - nowadays over {1200—1300 i'm getting somewhere £350. gyan raj rai joined the gurkha forces at the age of 17 and served for 20 years. we want to be treated equal to the british i in every aspect, according to the tripartite _ agreement's spirit. so, that is what british i government does not want. these veterans say they've been failed by successive governments, both labour and conservative.