Need to look within,improve Army internal health: new chief V K Singh

Internal health is very important. And for any organisation to do well,it must ensure that the internal health is good, Singh said. Till the time our internal health is not good,we will not be able to fight external threats.

No organisation can do well without its own internal audit,in terms of how things work. The Army has very strong traditions and very strong core values. These are the things that will make a difference to me, he said,indicating that issues like corruption and malpractices would be dealt with sternly. We want to set our own culture,we want to ensure the image and dignity of our soldier improves.

On modernisation,the Army Chief said there is need to improve internal systems and work culture to ensure that procurement procedures are shortened.

The focus will be to make our own systems and work culture better. In our own house also there can be problems,I am looking at that, he said in reply to a question on the slow procurement process.

In our combat units,there are certain things that are authorised but all of them may not be available. Can be as mundane as a knee pad and can range to weapons and ammunition. Am looking at ensuring that our deficiencies are made up in a shorter time, he said.

To questions on the rapid modernisation of Chinese forces in the Tibet region,Singh said China is modernising on the digital battlefield and India is looking at strengthening its own systems in the field. He said infrastructure development on the Indian side of the border is slower but it is now receiving more attention.

On the issue of permanent commission for women officers in the armed forces,Singh said there is need to deliberate on the matter,and while women officers have performed well,their induction in the forces should be a gradual process.

It is a gradual process and we have to look at the overall effect of permanent commissioning for both male and female officers. The A V Singh committee has said that we should shorten permanent cadre officers and have a large supporting cadre. We have to think of these things before taking a decision, he said.

On the issue of involving the Army in the fight against the Naxals,Singh said while there is a role as far as training anti-Naxal forces is concerned,states are capable of tackling the issue. It is a law and order issue and state forces are capable of tackling it. We are there to assist them. At present,it is training and that is what we are doing, he said.