(a) whether Shekatkar panel has suggested various recommendations to the Government to restructure the army and if so, the details of the suggestions made by the panel;
(b) whether the Government has accepted all the recommendations and if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor and the details of the recommendations which are not being implemented; and
(d) the time by which the accepted decisions of the panel are likely to be implemented?
MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) to (d): 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. Recommendations within the Term of Reference of the Committee were taken up for implementation.
These, inter alia, include:
(i) 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.
(ii) Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static / Station Workshops in the field Army.
(iii) Redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
(iv) Better utilization of Supply and Transportation echelons and Animal Transport Units.
(v) Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.
(vi) Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.
(vii) Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.
Recommendations, which were outside the Terms of Reference of the CoE, have not been taken up for implementation.
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