The United Nations (UN) has withheld reimbursement of Rs 338 crore to India for poor maintenance and serviceability of equipment, including armoured personnel carriers, trucks, jeeps and weapons used by the Indian Army in peacekeeping missions. More than 7,000 Indian Army men are deployed in four countries, including South Sudan, Congo, lebanon and Golan Heights.
The UN decided to stop the reimbursement following a study conducted by a special advisory group of the UN in 2012. The report said the sponsoring countries were not adequately using funds provided by the UN and in future they will not be paid unless the troops are properly equipped. The study also noted the countries involved in the missions were not equipping the troops to the “optimal level”.
India annually is reimbursed Rs 1,000 crore for its contribution to peacekeeping missions. The payment has been stopped for two years from 2014 to 2016, sources said here on Friday. While efforts were on to claim the dues through proper channels, the Indian Government has also taken some corrective steps. These include fast-tracking the procurement of specified equipment by the UN and granting “full” financial powers to the Vice Chief of Army, they said.
Explaining the procedure of deployment, officials said it is divided into two parts like “wet” and “dry” lease.
India equips the troops with weapons, personal kit, and transport depending on the terrain and threat perception in “wet” lease and the UN reimburses the expense. The international body provides everything ranging from weapons to other equipment in “dry” lease and India only contributes troops. At present, “wet” lease missions are in South Sudan and Congo while Golan Heights and lebanon fall under the purview of “dry” lease.
One of the prominent contributors to peacekeeping efforts since the 1950s, the Indian Army used to follow an ad hoc system of equipping its troops till 2006. The procedure was streamlined later and a brick of 65 items including weapons, armoured personnel carriers besides personal kit of soldiers was defined, they said.
The equipment deficiency for the troops deployed in Congo is about 36 per cent and the shortfall is about 35 per cent for troops in South Sudan, officials said. The shortage was in weapons, ammunition, armoured personnel carriers, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other engineering items. However, personal kit of soldiers, including 45 items was not facing any issue, they added.
Faced with this situation, the Government finally gave full financial powers to Vice Chief of Army to procure the items in March this year to cover up the shortages. Fast tracking the procedure, the Army initiated the process for 58 cases worth over Rs 120 crore. At least 11 cases of this lot worth over Rs 22 crore were already through, officials said.
The deficiency in the Congo mission arose a few months back after one of the infantry battalions was converted into a rapid deployment battalion (one battalions has 1,000 troops) whose equipment requirement is higher than a standard infantry battalion. Since the rapid deployment battalion was allotted a major portion of the equipment, the other troops have to use the remaining equipment, they said. However, more than 15 per cent deficiency out of 36 per cent was made up in the Congo mission till March this year, officials added. Similarly out of 35 per cent equipment deficiencies in South Sudan till March this year, almost 20% was made up, they said.