It is great news that India manufactures best shoes for the world. India exports shoes to other countries, which includes US Army. Indian manufactures make high ankle Direct Vulcanized Sole boots (DVS) which is a military combat boots designed for all types of seasons and terrains. Private companies also bid to make more flexible and better designed, light weight combat shoes. Modern combat boots are of different types, these boots are made with the Gore-tex materials which is light in weight . These boots have shock resistance Soles, designed for different types of weather and has fire resistant material.
But the sad reality is that our soldiers wear 130 year old designed Shoes which is very heavy. Mainly Ordnance factory board (OFB) manufactures the boots. The boots which were manufactured by OFB does not meet with the quality with the International standards. One of the officers had said that the boots have very hard leather and they have to soften them with Dubbin. The problem of the poor quality shoes was written on the article by retired Lt. Gen H.S Panag . I hope that Indian Government will take necessary action on this issue.
