Recommendations made by Shekatkar Committee

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
07-March, 2018 15:13 IST
Recommendations made by Shekatkar Committee

A Committee of Experts (CoE) was constituted by Ministry of Defence under the Chairmanship of Lt. Gen. (Retd) DB Shekatkar to recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces. The Committee submitted its report in December 2016. The Report was taken up by the Ministry of Defence to frame key action points and roadmap for implementation. Some Recommendations taken up for implementation include:

• Optimization of Signals Establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.
• Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static / Station Workshops in the field Army.
• Redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
• Better utilization of Supply and Transportation echelons and Animal Transport Units.
• Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.
• Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.
• Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.

Full details of the Report and its recommendations are not being placed in the public domain as operational aspects of the armed forces have also been covered, disclosure of which is not in the interest of national security.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Harish Meena in Lok Sabha today.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...eamline-supply-chain/articleshow/63590031.cms

The Army has initiated a process to close four of its ordnance echelons, reducing a layer from the supply chain that it expects will help quicken the delivery of equipment and other provisions to troops at forward locations.

A roadmap is being made for this and it is likely to be implemented by the end of 2019, top defence ministry sources said. A high-level meeting of the army was held last month to prepare the time table.

Closure of the four depots — the Ordnance Depot at Shakurbasti and the Central Vehicle Depot in Delhi, the Ordnance Depot at Cheoki in Allahabad and the Vehicle Depot at Panagarh in West Bengal — was among a series of reforms for the armed forces recommended by retired Lt Gen DB Shekatkar committee to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure.

Based on the recommendations, the private sector is being involved to run eight army base workshops, which do repairs and supply spare parts for the army’s main equipment. The army plans to hire a consultant to prepare a detailed project report on a government-owned contractor-operated model for the workshops.

The College of Defence Management at Secunderabad is also conducting a study on implementing the model. Currently, the Army’s five Central Ordnance Depots supply general stores, while the vehicle depots handle vehicles.

From these depots, the items are sent to the regional ordnance depots to supply to the different army commands. Then, they are transported to the division ordnance depots for supplying to the units.

The plan is to reduce the complexity of this chain that will improve operational preparedness at a time when China is becoming more belligerent along the Line of Actual Control and Pakistan continues to sponsor cross border terror actions.

“The army doesn’t require the four ordnance depots and is preparing to close them down. This means that a supply chain is removed and the items will be given faster to the formations. For instance, vehicles from the manufacturers will be directly sent to the units. This will also help in cost saving,” said a source.

Under the current plan, soldiers posted at the depots will be deployed at logistical elements located along the borders, helping the army improve the optimisation of its manpower. Civilians working at the depots will be posted elsewhere.

However, the civilian unions are unhappy with the move and have approached defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, sources said. A committee at the Ministry of Defence is looking into their demands.