NEW DELHI, February 9: Is a leaner and technologically advanced army a better bet for the country's defence than an army strong in numbers? Experts differ in their views on the subject.Former army Chief Gen K Sunderji thinks it is better to use the money to generate resources for modernisation. ``There is a need to streamline the army and reduce the manpower.''
Another ex-army Chief Gen V N Sharma says, ``The army is not bloated and there is no need to downsize it. Countries like China have only transferred people involved in civilian functions of the army to different departments where they are doing the same function.'' China has reduced the size of its army from four to three million and is considering retrenchment of 50,000 more.
Two years ago in India, a committee, headed by former Minister of State of Defence Arun Singh, recommended the downsizing of the army and its modernisation.
``In principle, this is a good thing. Modernisation of the army is long overdue,'' says Lt Gen (retd) SatishNambiar, ex-commander of the UN peace-keeping force in former Yugoslavia and currently director of the United Services Institute.
K Subrahmanyam, former director of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), also endorses the idea saying, ``it is a good idea as the army should be smaller and better.''
``Like economy, our defence is also in need of reform. Why are we maintaining an old military structure? We need to keep pace with the global developments. Like China and some other east Asian countries, we also need to downsize our army with focus being on a leaner, mightier and a better equipped army,'' says Brahma Chellany, professor of Security Studies at the Centre for Policy Research.
But Gen Sharma believes that ``downsizing should be resorted to only if China and Pakistan also agree to it and not otherwise. And if the government is interested in resource generation through such a move, then why only the army? Why not the bureaucracy?''
Defence analysts say that what Australia isspending on an army of 50,000, India is spending on its 9.6-lakh strong army.
``The implementation of the proposal will generate sufficient money for modernisation,'' says Bidwai but Gen Sunderji thinks the money may not be sufficient. ``This move might be useful keeping in view the fact that about 70 per cent of our defence budget is spent on salaries, pensions and spares. But given the enormously expensive weaponry, it is not going to be enough,'' says Prof Amitabh Mattoo, associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Gen Sharma says, ``If the entire defence budget is being spent without these 50,000 being employed, then it means that whether you employ them or not you are already spending that money. So even after the so-called downsizing or non-recruitment, the money needed for modernisation may not be there.''
However, Bidwai says, ``There is tremendous room for economy and our armed forces need to explore those possibilities including further downsizing to have a leaner and more efficientarmy.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
