Postal establishment in peace locations to be shut; signals, ordnance, supply units restructured
In a set of new reforms, described as the biggest post-independence, over 57000 Army personnel will be redeployed from non-core duties like postal service and military farms to combat oriented duties.
Announcing the reforms, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said that they are being carried out in consultation with the Indian Army and would be fully implemented by 2019. The restructuring includes shutting down of military farms, optimising signal units and reforming the national cadet corps.
“Restructuring by the Indian Army is aimed at enhancing Combat Capability in a manner that the officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks will be used for improving operational preparedness and civilians will be redeployed in different wings of the Armed Forces for improving efficiency,” a defence ministry release read.
The reforms to cut down flab are the first stage in larger plans to improve the “teeth to tail ratio” – the number of personnel in active combat role in relation to support units that facilitate the frontline.
The Defence Ministry had constituted a Committee of Experts under Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (retd) for enhancing “Combat Capability & Rebalancing Defence Expenditure of the Armed Forces”.
Out of the 99 recommendations discussed, the ministry has approved 65 for immediate implementation, while other changes are likely to be formalised over the next few months.
Here are the major reforms that have been approved, according to the Defence Ministry –
- Optimisation of Signals Establishments including merger of units that had duplicate roles.
- Restructuring of the various workshops that are needed for the field Army.
- Redeployment of various units from the Ordnance section.
- Cuts in Supply and Transport, especially Animal Transport units.
- Closure of Military Farms and Army postal establishments at peace locations
- Pruning of clerical staff and drivers
- Improving efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.