New Delhi: In an attempt to improve the working environment for the armed forces and other internal security outfits, the PMO has directed the home and defence ministries to ensure that all strategic decisions, especially those relating to the uniformed forces, should be taken only after consultations with their top officers.
There is a growing view in the BJP-led government that the uniformed forces have been ignored far too long while taking strategic decisions.
Prime Minister Mr Modi has signalled that any key decision cannot be left to the bureaucrats, and that the forces must be involved at every stage of decision making process as they have firsthand experience of what is happening on the ground.
“Though the armed forces are involved in testing and checking arms, in reality the entire process is deeply influenced by bureaucrats who have virtually no experience in this field. Similarly, any new welfare scheme for armed or paramilitary forces gets drafted by a joint secretary or director-level officer. Now actual operations officers from the forces will have a greater say,” a official said.
