By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Former Director General of Information Systems, Indian Army

Dassault Rafale

In a series of interviews with the media, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that he has now set the stage for far-reaching defence reforms from a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and unified commands to slashing non-operational military flab-held up since the 1999 Kargil conflict. He has emphasised that military modernisation was poised to take off in a major way, adding that "the impact will be seen next year" which could include the inking of the 59,500 crore deal for 36 French Rafale fighters by June end. His response to what changes have been ushered by him in Ministry of Defence (MoD) included: major change attitude (more openness, more trust, more confidence) and the mindset to deliver: delivery of OROP; faster handling of veteran grievances; exercise to improve teeth to tail ratio of armed forces; DPP 2016, under which acquisition proposals have already begun, and; deal for 36 Rafale aircraft will likely be cleared in June itself.

As for indigenous production, much is being publicised about the achievements of the DRDO, but what should be seriously examined by the Defence Minister is that what percentage and to what extent do they meet the requirements, especially the critical requirements of the armed forces even if they don't match up with commercially off the shelf products.

On the question of CDS, Defence Minister Parrikar said that CDS, jointness and reforms in basic structures are all inter-linked, which are being worked upon seriously - a CDS without jointness has no meaning. He added that this required a proper action plan for implementation over seven-eight years, it can't be done overnight, and if these issues were not resolved for 16 years, he thought he could take a few more months. All this is good news but needs close examination. Are we talking of defence reforms systematically or is it that we want to initiate an assortment of measures and call them defence reforms? Finalisation of the Rafale deal, which has lingered for years, certainly can't be termed defence reforms especially when eventual induction of the aircraft will still be distant after the deal is finally inked. This apart, the issues talked about by the Defence Minister amount to some parts of the cart of defence reforms.

But where is the horse to determine what should constitute the cart - the national security strategy (NSS) and the comprehensive defence review (CDR)? The government is aware of admission in Parliament during the erstwhile UPA regime that what we call a NSS, is actually a set of sundry policy letters lying in different places. Surely, initiation of the NSS and CDR should have been the first priority of the Modi government to set the right course for India's defence. This initiative should have been the first also for Defence Minister Parrikar, which certainly shouldn't be stymied with the argument that if this did not happen past 69 years, what is the hurry now.

In fact the argument should be in reverse especially given the reason that the NSS and CDR need to be worked out in deliberate fashion, not in quick time. This should be quite apparent when monthsafter submission of the Dhirendra Committee Report, DPP 2016 has not been issued as a complete document. It is yet unclear whether the government will go in for a bureaucrat-orchestrated Permanent Chairman COSC or a CDS albeit at a public function in June 2015, the Defence Minister promised to send his proposal for a CDS to the National Security Council. One year has passed since then. But the abovementioned statement of the Defence Minister that there can be no CDS without jointness indicates lack of clarity on the issue, perhaps induced by the bureaucracy. The reverse is actually true. It is the CDS who will usher in jointness in the armed forces. Claims of granting full or partial OROP notwithstanding, the Defence Minister may have initiated measures towards the welfare of veterans but the implementation on ground tells a different story. The mere fact that an independent Member of Parliament hosted panel discussion at Delhi's Constitution Club on the increasing instances of litigation and appeals in matters pertaining to disability pensions and benefits speaks volumes.

The Defence Minister actively needs to look into bringing down such litigation against disabled soldiers, and go for an effective and implementable mechanism to resolve disputes so that aggrieved soldiers are not forced to approach courts. Mere issue of policy without implementation is exercise in futility.

As for indigenous production, much is being publicised about the achievements of the DRDO, but what should be seriously examined by the Defence Minister is that what percentage and to what extent do they meet the requirements, especially the critical requirements of the armed forces even if they don't match up with commercially off the shelf products. More importantly, is there a time plan and a road map for indigenously meeting the military requirements including at ground level, as is the case in China? There is talk of outsourcing barbers in the military as part of adjusting the teeth to tail ratio but what about downsizing the governmental defence industrial complex by outsourcing stuff like mosquito repellent they produce and spend lakhs on advertizing such feats in the media.

While commenting on the need to outsource barbers in military, what about downsizing the 5,85,000 civilians in the MoD and spending 1,000 crore annually on pay, allowances and establishment of MoD (Finance). Why the latter are not paid by Ministry of Finance anyway and why are they part of MoD when budget expenditures go for clearance of Ministry of Finance anyway. Why is it that civilian defence employees under MoD are eating up 37 per cent of overall defence pension budget outlay? The Defence Minister would do well to fix the horses first before deciding on what the reform cart should comprise, taking into account the multiple issues discussed herein for the latter.

Photo Credit: Dassault Aviation