Army set for major reforms; Centre plans to give big boost to combat capability
New Delhi: For the first time since Independence, the Indian Army has embarked on a process of far-reaching reforms aimed at enhancing the Army’s combat capability and to cut down on unessential expenses without losing military teeth.
The thrust will be to hive off non-core functions of the Army, including the closure of military farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations.
“In a first-ever exercise after Independence, the defence ministry, in consultation with the Indian Army, has decided to reform the Army in a planned manner. These decisions were approved by the defence minister,” the ministry of defence said in a statement.
At the Union Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, defence minister Arun Jaitley announced the time-bound reforms which in the first phase will include a redeployment and restructuring of about 57,000 posts, comprising 31,000 civilians and 26,000 soldiers, including officers and men.
Sources told this newspaper that the 31,000-odd civilian staff will be redeployed in different wings of the armed forces in the country to improve all-round efficiency.
Reforms to be carried out by end of 2019
Other reforms include the merger of separate signals units into a single entity, the restructuring of repair echelons and the redeployment of ordnance echelons.
The reform measures are based on 99 recommendations by the committee headed by Lt. Gen. D.B. Shekatkar (Retd), of which the government accepted 65 after consultations with all the stakeholders. The MoD said the reforms will be carried out by December 31, 2019.
The Shekatkar committee was appointed in May last year and it had submitted its report in December. The ministry said there will be redeployment of ordnance echelons to include vehicle depots, ordnance depots and central ordnance depots, besides streamlining inventory control mechanisms. The reform will also be carried out to ensure better utilisation of supply and transport facilities and animal transport units.
