Source:-Increasing troops after Kargil war was immature
LT GEN D.B. SHEKATKAR is the man behind the Army’s ongoing efforts to downsize its troops. In 2016, he headed a committee that suggested ways to trim, redeploy and integrate the armed forces. Excerpts from an interview:
What was the reason behind the study to downsize the military?
In 1997, as additional director general of perspective planning, I had carried out an exercise to reduce 50,000 soldiers. That came to the notice of the present government and defence minister Manohar Parrikar. I also wrote an article in which I argued that merely based on number, nobody is going to win a war.
It is the combat-oriented army—lean and trim, agile and active—which will lead to victory in war. Based on internal assessment, the defence ministry ordered a study, comprising three more lieutenant generals, two air marshals, two admirals, financial experts from the ministry of defence, finance and the Army headquarters. A large chunk of the defence budget was going towards salaries, not much was left for capital acquisition.
What was your experience during the study?
Readjustment of the defence allocation and improvement of combat potential was the mandate of the study. So, we requested the government that whoever is paid from defence budget should be looked into. We spoke to all the chiefs, all the directorate and heads of all departments and got their views. When we started examining, we came across a number of organisations within the Army that had lost their usefulness. For example, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Corps Signals, Ordnance Corps, Army Service Corps and so on. We also saw many things available in the market that could be outsourced without impacting combat worthiness or war preparedness. We recommended that units like military farms be closed down, as we could buy the same from outside. Similarly, with stationery depots. We do not need such units as they were from World War II vintage. We recommended that mechanical forces be redeployed.
There is also a tremendous improvement in the communication systems on the border. Therefore, we realised there is no need for air maintenance now.
For example, Army has got it war college in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. Navy has it in Goa and IAF has it in Secunderabad. We said why don’t we have a combined armed forces war college, with combined courses, too.
Where can the Army reduce its flab?
We recommended supporting units like Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Corps Signals, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Service Corps and Army Education Corps be trimmed down. I am not asking for reduction in infantry, armoured or artillery, which are combat units. In high-altitude borders, where technology has limitations, manpower cannot be reduced. Army is manpower-oriented in disputed areas that are in mountainous regions. But, in planes like Rajasthan and Punjab, technology can be used in better ways. Therefore, there is a need for redeployment.
Which is the ideal military you followed during the course of your study?
Throughout the world, there is an emphasis on reducing the defence expenditure. Even the US and China are working on it. We deliberately did not follow any other model except the mechanisms because our challenges are totally different. US never fought a war in their land. Though they fought civil wars, they are involved in wars around the world to protect their vested interests. In Chinese army, there is a thrust to reorganise it, which is ultimately leading to reduction in manpower. But Indian problems are totally different. Americans do not have a next-door-enemy nor the Chinese. Therefore, we adopted the Indian model, as our focus is on mountainous terrains like LoC, LAC and Siachen.
How do you see India’s Teeth-to-Tail ratio compared to China and Pakistan?
When we are talking about redeployment or reorganisation, we are trying to cut the tail. But we cannot ignore the fact that tail is also part of the body. Tail has got its own purpose. In terms of manpower, we can fight a war or even a two-front war. There is no need for further accretion of the Army. There is a need to improve India’s combat endurance and redeploy effectively. Our tail has become too long in proportion to the teeth. Therefore, there is a need to cut the tail.
How did the officers react to the study findings?
The officers were reluctant to give out anything. They tried to convince us that these organisations, which were raised after the World War experience, were needed. But things have changed, from technology to decision-making patterns, and our adversaries are changing. So, we asked them to change. But, they wanted the status quo to be maintained and it was common to everybody, no exception including Army, Navy, Air Force and other civilian defence organisations. They believed that there was no scope for reduction. Instead of asking for more manpower, we should reduce troops from existing units and redeploy them accordingly.
How much of manpower needs to be curtailed?
There is a scope to reduce 80,000 men or more in the Army in the next five years. This would save Rs 25,000 crore annually, from 2021. And if you reduce civilian defence personnel, the saving could be around Rs 31,000 crore. This money can be utilised for the modernisation of the armed forces, to buy new equipment and technology and improve the quality of living of soldiers.
Earlier, too, several attempts were made to downsize the armed forces. Were any of those suggestions acted upon?
In 1997, we were able to reduce 55,000 people. Unfortunately, in 1999, the Kargil war happened. The war did not happen because we had trimmed down. It was not that we were numerically weak. The reasons were totally different. But instead of trimming, we added more. So, our reaction to Kargil was immature. Numbers cannot win you a war. Sixty-five of our committee’s recommendations have been accepted. That is why four committees have been set up by the Army for further restructuring. Reluctance on the part of the IAF and the Navy will gradually go away.
Army is a major source of employment in our country. Will the political leadership be ready to accept the cut in numbers?
Army should not be seen as a source of employment. Do you want an Army of people who are unemployed or unemployable? Merely giving a job is not the real task of the Army.
What is your opinion on the creation of Chief of Defense Services?
We must have CDS. We have mentioned it in our report. Also, the theatre commands need to be reorganised. These theatre commands are not on the lines of the US or any foreign army; their concept is completely different. We cannot borrow the idea of other country while adopting theatre commands.
Source:- The Week
The post Increasing troops after Kargil war was immature appeared first on Indian Defence Update.Indian Defence Update -
Please Visit Our Site For Latest News On Indian Army, Navy and Airforce Indian Defence Update.
from Indian Defence Update https://ift.tt/2Jk7XfR
via IFTTT
No comments: