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NEW DELHI: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the NDA government had initiated steps to reform the Army in a planned manner, while also taking a slew of measures to improve the working conditions, salaries and pensions of all armed forces personnel.

In the customary address to soldiers on the eve of Independence Day, Sitharaman said the first phase of reforms in the Army involved “redeployment and restructuring” of around 57,000 posts of officers, jawans and civilians.

“Major reforms include optimisation of the Signals establishments, restructuring of repair echelons, redeployment of ordnance echelons, better utilisation of supply and transport echelons, besides closure of military farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations,” she said.

Steps are also being taken towards enhancing standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army and improving the efficiency of the NCC . “All this restructuring is aimed at enhancing the combat capability of the Army,” she said.

“The government took a decision to implement ‘ One Rank, One Pension ’ for defence personnel in 2015 and promised to pay arrears in four instalments. I can say that all OROP arrears have been cleared with over Rs 10,788 crore being spent. Over 65.81 lakh defence pensioners have benefited from this,” she said

