<span style="color: #222222;">Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the Armed Forces personnel over All India Radio on the eve of Independence Day.<br />''<br />'' She said, the country looks at them with great pride and they must keep on guarding the borders with all their might. Ms. Sitharaman also asked them to always be prepared to reply to any aggression inimical to the nation.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Defence Minister said, a contract for procurement of nearly two lakh Bullet Proof Jackets with best of the class specifications is underway. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Similarly, in order to ensure faster decision making, for the day to day requirements of the troops or the ammunition, greater powers have been delegated to the Force Headquarters and other lower functionaries. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">All available funds are being put to optimum utilisation so that there is no shortage of essential items. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Ms. Sitharaman said, in a first-ever exercise after Independence, the Ministry of Defence in consultation with the Indian Army has decided to reform the Indian Army in a planned manner. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The first phase of the reforms involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57 thousand posts of officers, junior commissioned officers and others. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Major reforms include optimisation of Signals establishments, restructuring of repair echelons, redeployment of Ordnance echelons besides closure of Military Farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations.   </span><br />'' <br />