For many years now, the Indian Army has depended mostly on European companies for high-altitude clothing and other textile items. Now, the army wants to source them from domestic producers as the army’s requirement is going up every year, according to a newspaper report.

The army is creating awareness among the local industries on its requirements for protective clothing. A top army officer who addressed participants at a meeting on technical textiles in Coimbatore, told the newspaper that there is a need for high altitude clothing, protective textiles, geo fabric for border roads, etc.

Out of an annual budget of Rs 1100 crore for general clothing, Rs. 400 crore goes towards purchases from the trade and the rest to ordnance stores. The army spends another Rs 200 crore on imports, including super high altitude clothing.

In March this year, the National Textiles Corporation (NTC) organized a conclave in New Delhi that deliberated on the subject of indigenisation and supply of special clothing to soldiers, on the concept of ‘Make in India’.

That conclave stressed on the need for quality improvement, adherence to time lines and import substitution in technical textiles area, so that the Indian armed and paramilitary forces could get the best solution at the best price. (SH)