Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asked the armed forces to spend financial resources by avoiding wastage in view of the economic burden imposed by coronavirus (COVID-19), the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
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In an address through video-conference to the tri-Service Commanders, Mr. Singh said he expected the forces to ensure their operational preparedness “while they are battling COVID-19 and the adversary should not be allowed to exploit the current situation.”
“Stressing on the requirement of jointness of the armed forces, the Defence Minister asked the Commanders in Chief to identify and prioritise tasks that could be accomplished quickly and assist in revival of the economy after the lockdown is lifted,” the Ministry stated.
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The conference was attended by the three Service Chiefs, the Chief of the Defence Staff, senior Ministry officials and officers from major commands.
Devolution of powers
The Commanders appreciated the recent devolution of emergency financial powers by the Ministry that has ensured timely procurement of necessary medical supplies to bolster the health infrastructure of hospitals, the statement said.
