Indian Military on standby

[Hindustani78]

August 15, 2018 18:11 IST
Updated: August 15, 2018 19:06 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...nanthapuram/article24697133.ece?homepage=true

Army men and vehicles of the 13 Garhwal Rifles on the standby for rescue operations on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Indian Army


The Army is coordinating with the civil administration in the district.

As many as 73 Army men and officers of the 13th Garhwal Rifles are on the standby at the Military Stationto deploy as the situation appears to worsen by the minute.

Major Tarun Rana told The Hindu that his unit has inflatable boats, rope, tackle, life jacket, flashlights, battery packs and other life-saving equipment, including emergency medicines, food and water, to come to the aid of citizens marooned on houses in flooded neighbourhoods.

The 13 Garhwal, one of the most decorated combat regiments of the Indian Army with a storied operational history dating back to 1887, is also actively involved in search and rescue missions in flood Aluva and other localities.

Colonel Sinha said the Army men have also stocked food, chappathi, rice and dal, and water to give stranded citizens.

The Army is coordinating with the civil administration in the district.

 

[Hindustani78]

‘Massive Army reform under way’
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, August 14, 2018 22:43 IST
Updated: August 14, 2018 22:43 IST
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/massive-army-reform-under-way/article24693010.ece
Aimed at greater combat ability: Nirmala
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her first address to the armed forces on the eve of Independence Day, highlighted the government’s efforts to reform the Army in a big way.

“In a first ever exercise after Independence, the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Indian Army has decided to reform the Indian Army in a planned manner… This restructuring is aimed at enhancing the combat capability of the Army in a manner that the officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) and Other Ranks (OR) will be used for improving the operational preparedness,” the Minister said in the address on Tuesday.

Redeployment

Ms. Sitharaman said the first phase of the reforms involved redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers, JCOs, ORs and civilians.

The major reforms include optimisation of signals establishments, restructuring of repair echelons, redeployment of ordnance echelons, better utilisation of supply and transport echelons and animal transport units besides closure of military Farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations.

Assuring that there shall be no shortcoming in providing all dues and facilities to soldiers, Ms. Sitharaman said that in line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, the Ministry has taken “the decision to pay uniform allowance” and clarity has been brought in with respect to “what is covered within the ambit of the allowance and what clothing items will be provided by the government.”

Ms. Sitharaman also stated that to ensure faster decision making, for day-to-day requirements of the troops or ammunition, greater powers have been delegated to the service headquarters and other lower functionaries.