Army changes old canvas, orders new sports shoes

Ajay Banerjee

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13

Indian Army soldiers will literally have “padded comfort” under their feet when they carry out their daily morning physical training (PT). The Army headquarters has ordered the purchase of new sports shoes from top Indian manufacturers to replace the World War II-era designed and standard issue canvas shoe issued to the troops.

The existing shoes offer very basic under-sole padding, which is nowhere near the comfort level that modern-day sports shoes offer. Around 1.76 lakh pairs of new shoes have been ordered in the first phase and the deliveries are scheduled to commence in August.

It will last around 12 months, allowing each jawan to get a pair every year. After one year, the Army will order the same pair or its improved version for the entire 13-lakh-strong force.

Shoe comfort for physical training has been a pending issue for more than two decades. The Army procures around 20 lakh canvas shoes every year from the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB).

The OFB does not manufacture these shoes, but buys from civilian suppliers. Each soldier is issued a pair every six months free of cost by the Army.

An Army study had shown that running or PT shoes need to have a different structure and cannot double as shoes for playing games such as basketball or hockey.

The Army started its attempt to procure sports shoes in 2008, but the move was scuttled in 2011 when Maneka Gandhi, then an Opposition MP, objected to the use of cow leather in shoes being bought by the Army. The then Defence Minister AK Antony cancelled the procurement order. The Footwear Design and Development Institute, Greater Noida, helped in design specifications and comfort levels.

Better padding, greater comfort 

• The Army procures 20 lakh canvas shoes (see pic), having basic under-sole padding, every year from the Ordnance Factories Board, which sources these from civilian suppliers
• The Army has ordered around 1.76 lakh pairs of new shoes, made of synthetic material with adequate under-sole padding and comfort, in the first phase. The delivery starts in August
• Each pair will cost Rs 785 and last 12 months. As a result, each jawan will get a pair every year, from the current issue of two pairs a year