Armed forces get more emergency financial powers to fight Covid surge

These are in addition to the emergency powers delegated to the medical officers of the armed forces last week, a Defence Ministry statement said. Invoking special provisions, Rajnath Singh granted the emergency powers to empower the armed forces and speed up their efforts in tide over the current Covid-19 situation in the country.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday granted emergency financial powers to top officers of all the three armed forces to fight the Covid-19 surge.

These are in addition to the emergency powers delegated to the medical officers of the armed forces last week, a Defence Ministry statement said.

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Invoking special provisions, Rajnath Singh granted the emergency powers to empower the armed forces and speed up their efforts in tide over the current Covid-19 situation in the country.

"These powers will help formation commanders to establish and operate quarantine facilities/hospitals and undertake procurement/repair of equipment/items/material/ stores, besides provisioning of various services and works required to support the ongoing effort against the pandemic," the statement said.

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Vice chiefs of the three armed forces, including the Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) and General Officer Commanding-in-Chiefs (GOC-in-Cs) and equivalents in all three services have been given full powers.

"The Corps Commanders/Area Commanders have been delegated powers up to Rs 50 lakh per case and Division Commanders/Sub Area Commanders and equivalents have been delegated powers up to Rs 20 lakh per case," the ministry said.

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A senior government officer said the step will augment the efforts of the civil administration.

These powers have been devolved initially for a period of three months from May 1 to July 31.

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"The emergency powers were sanctioned to the Armed Forces last year too when the Covid-19 pandemic first broke out. This had helped the Armed Forces tackle the situation faster and in an effective manner," said the ministry.
 

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