The Indian Express has published a critical report related to some major changes in the Indian Army. The report, coincidently, comes at a time when the Indian Army is deeply engaged in the Ladakh region in a bitter confrontation with Chinese PLA troops.
According to the report, the Government of India has proposed several changes to ‘reduce expenditure’ and ‘better use of resources’ of the army. The newspaper says that this has created a stir in the army.
The proposal includes closing the Army Day celebrations to be held on 15 January (Army Day), closing the parade of individual regiments to be held on 9 October, closing private mess for military officers and closing the CSD canteens.
These suggestions are part of a report prepared in the wake of a review of the Army’s internal system. The proposal called for a reduction in the number of army bands, pipes and drums used in the Republic Day and Beating Retreat Ceremony from 30 to 18.
The reasoning behind this is that the number of contingents participating in the parades was reduced from 12 to six but the number of bands was not reduced in that proportion. It has also been said in the proposal that the programs to be held on Vijay Day and Kargil Vijay Day should be organized with minimum intensity.
The number of residential guards of Generals are proposed to be restricted to only four and these too would be authorised only to Lt Generals and above, as per entitlement.
Military police outriders and escorts for Generals are to be stopped and restricted only to a few ceremonial events. No military police vehicle or outriders are proposed to escort any VIP within military stations too.
According to the report, a senior officer in Army HQs said the feedback over the proposed modifications have been positive, endorsing the proposals. “A final call on the proposals will be taken at the Army Commanders Conference which is scheduled to be held later this month in New Delhi,” the officer said.
