Pulling up the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for providing sub standard uniforms to soldiers manning the borders, Defence Minister A K Antony has asked the organisation to ensure that jawans, especially those deployed in extreme weather conditions, get the best possible clothing and gear.Perturbed by complaints about clothing by soldiers during his visits to border regions over the past year, the ministry told top OFB officials at a review meeting on Friday that the organisation needs to consistently upgrade itself. “Ensure that the jawans, especially those deployed in areas of extreme weather conditions, get the most comfortable clothes and gears,” the Defence Minster said, adding that the best parameter of quality clothing “depends on how satisfied the end user is”.The minister said a constant skill upgrade is required to ensure that OFB products remain competitive with the private sector. “The new market environment (should be seen) as an opportunity to have a more critical look within and take appropriate steps to be competitive not only in the domestic sphere but also worldwide,” the minister said.As reported by this newspaper in February, a huge consignment of defective winter jackets procured through the OFB was issued to troops on the border in Jammu and Kashmir this year. The Army had identified 17,000 defective jackets and had been forced to dip into its war reserves to protect soldiers from cold. A CAG report also raised a similar issue on defective blankets.The problem of defective clothing was also discussed at the Army Commanders Conference in April. The Army top brass emphasised the need of improving the quality of combat kits issued to soldiers.
