GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Defence

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1972
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016
Poor quality ordnance factory products

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1972. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar 

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the soldiers are being forced to buy their own boots and uniforms due to poor quality of ordnance factory products (OFPs);

(b) if so, the details of the action taken by Government to address the situation; and

(c) whether Government has any plans for restructuring and modernizing the Ordnance Factories Board, and if so, the details thereof?

Answer
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) & (b): No, Sir. The annual requirement of the Army for boots is 6 lakhs, out of which Ordnance Factories are supplying 50% of the requirement. These boots are manufactured confirming to the specifications and have been appreciated by the users. The balance 3 lakhs are purchased from trade.
The Ordnance Factories are supplying different varieties of uniforms to the Indian Army and there are no quality complaints about the Ordnance Factory uniforms and boots. Ordnance Factories have introduced a number of new techniques in order to further improve the quality of their products.

(c) Modernisation is an ongoing process in Ordnance Factories.