(a) whether the Government is aware about insufficient supply of snow goggles, multi-purpose boots and requisite sanctioned food for soldiers in high altitude areas in Siachen and Ladakh;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether it is true that calorie intake of the troops is compromised as high as 82% and shortage of snow goggles is between 62% and 98%;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) to (e): The authorisation and holding of essential items including snow goggles, multi-purpose boots to the soldiers deployed in high attitude areas in Ladakh and Siachen is as per operational requirement of the Indian Army. The acquisition of such items is undertaken as per laid down specification and authorisation, which is an ongoing process for which necessary steps are taken regularly.
Further, there has been no instance of insufficient supply of the requisite sanctioned food for soldiers in high altitude areas in Siachen and Ladakh. The Government has authorised special scales of rations to all troops who are deployed above 12000 feet. The ration scales are designed based upon nutritional requirement of a soldier as per their energy expenditure under different climatic conditions. Soldiers are supplied with the authorised scale of rations, which caters to their nutritional requirement as well as their taste preference.
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