Army jawan posted in Kargil and Siachen to get indigenous equipment soon

New Delhi: Very soon Army personal deployed above 12000 feet from the sea level will be provided with Indigenous equipment which so far has been imported.

Army posts in Siachen, Kargil and many more such places are above 12000 feet where they have to face extreme cold weather conditions. The government has been planning to purchase indigenous products from very long time. The indeginisation programme taken up by the ministry and the Army has been able to save money to the tune of Rs 250 to 300 crore per annam to the government exchequer.

Generally an Army personal are given special clothing above 9000 feet height but for the Army personnel posted at 12000 feet and above these clothing are necessary as they are life saving. Siachen, Nathu La, Bumla, East Laddakh and Kargil are some of areas where negotiating with the prevailing weather condition without these clothing and equipments are impossible.

Army sources told One India that the government has to cough up Rs 600 to 800 crore on purchase of these special clothing and equipments so the process of Indigenisation was started by the government as both the government as well as the Army wanted to do this.

The Army has adopted the revenue model for purchasing these cloths and equipments as these things are already being used by the Army. As per sources Thermal Insole, snow goggle, rucksack and face mask have already been Indegenised and now Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) has to be Indegenised which was earlier made of animal fur that the news company is offering is made up of synthetic stuff. In two-three month's time they will be ready for the use of the Armed forces.

Sources informed that for indgenisation of these products 23 firms participated in it with their products and in two days time reports will be out that which product has passed the required test, which has failed and why has any company failed the test? Every thing will be told to them.

Army sources also informed that there are many other products that has to be indigenised and the Army is working on it. They are Modular Glovs, Tugger Shoes, Multi-Purpose Boot, Sleeping Bag, Cramp On and Carabina. To make these things indegenous system is being made transparent and soon every equipment will be indegenous. However, some other sources informed that some of the equipment are so specialised that making them by Indian companies will definitely take time before it is approved from the uses of Army.