New proposal to army: Cut ceremonies, canteen
October 18, 2020  11:41
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A slew of measures proposed to streamline utilisation of manpower as well as financial and material resources has been received well, but is creating ripples in Army circles. Because the proposals include doing away with Army Day and Territorial Army Day parades in New Delhi, cutting down on ceremonial practices such as brass bands and quarter guards, individual officers mess and CSD canteen for units in peace stations.

These proposed measures are part of a report circulated after an internal review of existing practices. Titled Optimisation of Manpower and Resources: Review of Practices and Facilities in Indian Army, the exercise was conducted earlier this year. Several suggestions were circulated among major establishments, command headquarters and major directorates of the Army -- and received broad concurrence.

The Sunday Express has learnt that the proposed measures include discontinuing the Army Day parade on January 15 and Territorial Army Day parade on October 9.

For own health, Army looks to cut ceremonies, canteens, mess and pipes and drums ensembles that participate in the Republic Day parade and Beating Retreat ceremony are proposed to be brought down from 30 (15 bands and 15 pipes and drums) to 18 (10 bands and 8 pipes and drums). The rationale: while in the past the number of marching contingents in the Republic Day parade had been brought down from 12 to 6, there had not been any corresponding decrease in the number of bands.

Read the full report in the Sunday Express HERE
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