New Delhi: With the CAG slamming the poor
quality of ration for jawans, the Defence Ministry on Monday
increased the food quota for the troops by equating them with
officers in terms of entitlement for eggs and fresh fruits.
"On directions of the Defence Minister, the rations for
jawans in terms of eggs and fresh fruits have been increased,"
Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said here.
The decision will come into immediate effect and will
be implemented at the cost of Rs 250 crore annually by the
ministry, he added.
Kar said earlier the jawans deployed in peace and field
areas were not given any eggs and fruits were given only
thrice a week.
But after today`s decision, they would get two eggs and
230 grams of fresh fruits everyday.
Jawans deployed in areas above 9,000 feet will also
benefit as their quota has also been increased from one egg
and 110 grams of fruits to two eggs and 230 grams of fruits
daily.
Kar said the decision was taken on basis of the Defence
Minister`s interaction with troops across the country and many
more steps for the welfare of forces are expected to be taken
in the near future.
The Comptroller and Auditor General had recently pulled
up the Army for the poor quality of food items supplied to
troops in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, noting that
the rations had rotted in some cases.
-PTI
