Issue
Net Edition | Date : 06 Mar , 2013
Modernization of Army including Infantry is a continuous process, based on threat perception, operational necessity, technological changes and available resources. Combat capacity and mobility of Infantry is being upgraded as per the Long Term Perspective Plan (LTPP).
30 Infantry Battalions are proposed to be raised in the Thirteenth 5 year Plan towards enhancing combat capacity.
Mobility of Infantry is proposed to be enhanced through introduction of superior vehicles with better cross country mobility, as stated by Defence Minister AK Antony in the parliament.
The budgetary allocation for capital acquisition for modernization of Army during Financial Year 2012-2013 is Rs.13724.14 crore.
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Part 1….
The General has a very valid point about the Infantry being the Battle Winning factor. He has broadly touched most of the issues pertaining to the Infantry. However there are certain core issues that need to be addressed as far as the Infantry is concerned and these are.
1. Personal Equipment of an Infantry man remains to be of a very poor standard. An Indian soldier isn’t even authorised a mattress yet. He still sleeps on a ‘durrie’. Infantryman does the dirtiest of jobs and is the most poorly looked after soldier of the Indian Army.
2. Accommodation of our soldiers is sub- standard in peace areas and in operational areas its unliveable and pathetic. Even as a Commanding Officer I lived in something that was akin to a shanty. Everything is improvised and there is nothing standard.
3. Training – Various training modules have been put in practice for training the infantry battalions during peace time. However training is the first casualty on the arrival of the Battalion to a peace area. 35% of the battalion will be permanently out i.e. 25 % on leave and another 10 % on Army courses of Instruction and Administrative out Station Duties. Administrative duties are of such magnitude in the Indian Army that at the end of the day not a single man is available for carrying out training. Ask the Adjutant of an Infantry Battalion and he will tell it all. We are overburdened in Administrative management of our own unit. Guard Duties and fatigues and maintenance of the military areas have sadly fallen upon the Infantry battalions. A Command House Guard consumes an Infantry company for full 3 months. I guess the Army Commander knows what I am saying. Most of the training reports are just on paper only.
contd……