Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Defence forces to utilise funds in time
By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH. 2. Procedures have now been revised to ensure that the budgetary allocation to the defence forces is spent within the stipulated time, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, N. C. Vij, said today. The armed forces has been unable to spend the funds earmarked despite complaints of poor allocation. This inability is attributed to redtapism and bureaucratic hurdles in the Defence Ministry.

Gen. Vij said that either surrender or non-utilisation of finances would be a thing of the past. ``We are quite confident that we will be able to do it (spend the allotted money) in the years to come,'' he said.

The army's planning process would not be bogged down though it had a wider range thanks to the Western countries' recent interest in India's purchase of defence equipment. Because the Army had a good idea of what it wanted. ``We have a plan for not one year or two years but for the next 15 years. It has been a matter of availability of money and the right stuff. We shall make the right choices. The best for the money will be bought,'' he said.

Asked if the Indian defence establishment was looking more towards the West than Russia for defence purchases, the Vice Chief said that the criteria for purchase rested on quality. ``I really would not say that (we are looking at the West). We are looking at from where we get the best.''

Gen.Vij, who has been involved in the Indo-US defence talks, said that the talks were progressing very well. ``Both sides want to learn from each other just like we want to learn from others also. It is not confined to any one party.''

Asked if the level of cooperation was confined to exercises only or would be extended to joint operations, he said that it was for the national policy makers to decide on ``bigger matters,'' he said.

On the Army's outlook towards Arjun, the Indian-built Main Battle Tank, Gen.Vij, who has commanded a strike corps, said that the tanks were now deployed along the border and were found to be good. ``Troops which are using Arjuns are happy with their performance,'' he said.

Regarding the delay in production at the Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory, he said it was ``sticking to schedules'' now. ``How many Arjuns are to produced in the next five years have already been worked out. The production of Arjuns consumes time. But that is the beginning,'' he said.

The Army was not considering granting permanent commission to women. It was only thinking in terms of increasing the number of women cadets ``appreciably.''

Earlier, Gen.Vij reviewed the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy here.

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