Gen. Bipin Rawat facilitated indigenisation of special clothing for the Defence, says textiles expert
The Hindu
He supported officers with procurement processes, backed their ideas, says S.K. Sundararaman, deputy chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association
The last five or six years have seen several measures that went into indigenisation of speciality garments and fabrics for the Defence forces, and one of the key persons in this effort was , says S.K. Sundararaman, deputy chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association.
“I met General Rawat at least half a dozen times,” said Mr. Sundararaman, who is also the former chairman of the Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA). The ITTA held an Army sourcing conference in 2016-2017 and General Rawat, who was then the Chief of Army Staff, was invited as the chief guest. He would back his officers for their ideas. “He empowered his people to take decisions,” Mr. Sundararaman said, recollecting his meetings with General Rawat.
The fear of being caught for traffic rule violation has indeed compelled many two-wheeler riders to wear helmets. But one cursory look at riders at any traffic junction in Bengaluru shows that more than half the riders have on their heads non-standard helmets, designed solely to evade the eye of law, with little concern for the safety of their own heads.