Srinagar, Oct 12 (KNO): Stating that soldiers’ welfare is integral to national security, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said lessons from ‘Operation Sindoor’ have underscored the need for resilient military supply chains.
Addressing a function organized to launch ‘Bharat Rice’ for troops and Indian Army signing a 5-year agreement with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Singh, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “The strategic analysis of Operation Sindoor indicated that warning times could be extremely short in future conflicts. We must build logistics resilience to sustain our operations. This MoU with FCI represents a significant step in that direction.”
The Defence Minister said, “Soldiers’ operational readiness depends not only on weapons and equipment but also on their physical health, mental balance, morale and stamina, particularly in harsh conditions.”
He said healthy food, robust equipment and complete training helped boost troops’ morale and prepare them to face challenges. “The welfare of soldiers is not a peripheral issue, but an integral component of national security,” he said.
Notably, under the Bharat Rice initiative, quality rice will be delivered directly to Army supply depots in remote areas, including Ladakh and the Northeast, instead of being collected by Army depots from local FCI facilities.
Singh described Bharat Rice as a bond of trust extending from the farmer’s field to the soldier’s plate, saying the initiative embodied the spirit of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.
“This superior-quality rice will be provided in accordance with standard specifications. Furthermore, we are ensuring ergonomic packaging. While this initiative might appear small, it offers immense operational relief to the soldiers responsible for transporting rations to remote and difficult terrains,” he said.
The MoU provides the Army with a formal framework to use identified FCI warehouses, labour resources and material-handling equipment during operational contingencies. It will support additional storage, rapid mobilisation, dispersion and forward positioning of rations, stores and equipment closer to operational areas.
Singh said modern warfare depended not only on weapons, platforms and technology but also on storage capacity, transportation networks, warehousing and timely replenishment of supplies.
Singh said the arrangement would strengthen the responsiveness of military logistics while making better use of existing national infrastructure. He described the agreement as a force multiplier for operational preparedness and an example of a “Whole-of-Government” and “Whole-of-Nation” approach.
INFRASTRUCTURE SERVING BOTH CIVILIAN, NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
He cited fighter aircraft landing on expressways and roads and bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation being used by local residents as examples of infrastructure serving both civilian and national requirements. FCI warehouses, he said, could similarly support the Army’s supply chain when required.
The MoU will remain valid for five years and may be extended by mutual consent. Coordination will take place at formation level between the Army’s Supply and Transport elements and FCI’s regional and divisional offices, with the arrangements incorporated into operational logistics plans.
The rice will be milled to prescribed defence specifications and supplied through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) during the 2026–27 financial year after quality-control checks. It will be supplied in 10-kg and 30-kg bags to ease handling and transportation, particularly at forward posts.
Singh said the government is focusing on self-reliance and modernisation across defence requirements, including weapons, technology, clothing, equipment and training. He also stressed the need to ensure quality supplies and timely delivery to troops deployed in forward areas.
“When the soldiers stand guard at the borders, they must have the confidence that the entire country stands with them,” he said—(KNO)