Tag Archives: DRDO scientists

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Race for next DRDO chief heats up, incumbent eyes extension

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By Pradip R Sagar May 02, 2018 18:29 IST  – THE WEEK

DRDO chief S. Christopher (left) with Arun Jaitley, during his brief tenure as defence minister in 2017 | Facebook account of DRDO

With the tenure of S. Christopher, current chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), coming to an end later this month, the race for the top post in the country’s premier defence research organisation has begun. Christopher, who was given a one-year extension at the last moment in May 2017, though, is also eyeing another extension. But whether he will be second time lucky is unclear.

Hectic parleys have begun for the coveted post. The key players who are in the race to lead the DRDO include Sudhir Mishra, director general of BrahMos missile system division, and G. Satheesh Reddy, who is presently serving as director general (Missiles & Strategic Systems) and scientific advisor to the defence minister. Besides Mishra and Reddy, P.K. Mehta, who is currently heading the office of the director general of armament and combat engineering systems, is considered to be in the race to head DRDO, which has an annual budget of nearly Rs 20,000 crore.

According to sources in South Block, Reddy is the senior-most scientist in the organisation after Christopher. His name figured prominently last year also, but Christopher managed to get an extension at the last minute, meaning Reddy would need to wait for a year. Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had bifurcated the post of DRDO chief and scientific advisor to the defence minister, which earlier used to be occupied by one person. Christopher is completing his tenure on May 29.

Mishra, head of BrahMos missile system division—a joint venture between India and Russia— is also among candidates vying for the top post in DRDO.

Mehta, who is heading the Pune-based cluster of armament and combat engineering systems, can be a dark horse in the race due to his proximity with top BJP leaders, sources claimed.

Christopher, who took over as the head of DRDO in May 2015, did his best to impress Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by showcasing the work done under his leadership towards self-reliance in the recently concluded DefExpo in Chennai. A special pavilion under the ‘Make in India’ theme was inaugurated by Modi, in which all major equipment designed and developed by DRDO were showcased. Last year, Christopher had directed all the labs to remove his photographs, just two weeks before he was to retire. But only at the last minute, he was given extension for a year by the government.

DRDO has often been criticised for delayed projects, as most of its ventures, ranging from the Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems, have been repeatedly missing deadlines, with huge cost overruns. In the absence of self-reliance in defence, the Indian armed forces continue to be heavily dependent on imports. India continues to top the list of global importers of military hardware, with over 70 per cent of armed forces’ requirements being met by foreign firms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists in 2014 had sent a stern message to the defence research agency against their ‘chalta hai’ attitude.

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Christopher lost his grip on DRDO top officials

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To                                                                                              5th March 2018
Hon’ble Smt Nirmala Sitharaman,
Defence Minister,
104- South Block
New Delhi-110011

Subject:   Dr Christopher lost his grip on DRDO top officials who leave no opportunity to show their illegal might even at the cost of the image & reputation of DRDO as an organization of MOD, Govt. of India.

Madam,

DRDO secretary Dr Christopher severely failed to manage DRDO HR problems. Everyday DRDO is witnessing the high level drama of unethical transfers and superseding games on the basis of linguistics or corruption equations. Can you believe that a Director General is fighting for his promotion in CAT, several scientists are victimized in the form of unjustified APAR numbers, DPCs for promotions have not been conducted in last two years on flimsy pretexts, Employees of DRDO are compelled to take the recourse of avoidable litigations on similar law points to unnecessary harass them, officials of DRDO are made scapegoats if they request for  redressal of their genuine service matter grievances . if you ask DRDO scientists to write their grievances without any fear  of any one to you then you will get  flood  of complaints regarding deliberately created  HR problems in entire DRDO, MoD

Please ask Dr Christopher, how many cases are pending of sexual harassment in DRDO and for how long; how many cases are pending of SC/ST/ Minority commission harassment in DRDO and for how long. Interestingly the DG, HR in DRDO is a women but she is responsible for the delay in genuine sexual harassment cases like ITM Mussoorie, IRDE, Dehradun & prompt in pursuing the false sexual harassment cases made under conspiracy like sexual harassment case against Shri PARBIR Verma, Sc, F of DMSRDE, Kanpur, unjustified APAR Marks specially in the APARs of women scientists. Women Scientists are harassed on the basis of gender bias taking one or the other pretext like Scientist C’ of SAG, Delhi Sumitra Singh, ‘has been issued charge sheet for Major penalty in Feb. 2018 on trifling issue of proceeding USA  to look after her ailing 05 years son before receipt of the N-O-C although she applied for N-O-C before her onward journey to USA.

28th Feb at 5:40, a drama was witnessed by a number of employees of Joint Cipher Bureau, Office gate. Near Metcalfe House, Delhi showing entire DRDO in poor light . whistle blower Sh Prakash Singh,  Senior Admin Officer Grade –I  was  illegally not allowed  to enter the JCB, Main office  campus, Delhi & he was  even man handled by JCB security officers  namely  by  Shri Dinesh Kumr & by  Shri A K Mehta  when he wanted to know the ground of banning his entry in the JCB, Main office Campus situated at Metcalfe House, Delhi. Sh Prakash Singh,Senior Admin Officer Grade –I wanted to go to  attend a retirement party of his colleague Sh R K Sharma, Sc, D but Director  Shri R K Jain  gave oral   Illegal instruction to security  officers for restricting the entry of whistle blower  Sh Prakash Singh in  JCB, Main office, Campus , Delhi to humiliate  him. The said Security Officers have become the conduit for all illegal acts & omissions of  Shri R K Jain, present Director of JCB, Delhi  &  as a quid pro quo they do not  need to do their Security duty  at the mandated place which  had already resulted in a stealing & house breaking incident in the office building of  one of the sensitive Wing of JCB, Delhi  situated in Delhi  in the night of 30-03-2017 which further resulted in no work in the said sensitive wing of JCB, Delhi for last at least 10 months & formal F. I. R. has not  been registered by either by Shri R K Jain ,Director, JCB, Delhi or by Shri A K Mehta, Security officer  in this regard. Many complaints of corruptions against Shri R K Jain are pending in DRDO, Delhi without any action & an order passed by Shri Arun Jaitely, the then RM  in June 2017 to initiate a disciplinary proceeding against Shri   R K Jain  in one another matter is kept dormant for last 09 months  due to  the reasons  best known to the present Secretary himself.

Whistle Blower Shri Prakash Singh , Senior Admin Officer Grade –I, posted in Joint Cipher Bureau, DRDO  has been illegally denied the entry in his duty place at JCB, Main Office, Delhi since 11-12-2017 to till to date  to keep secret & concealed the acts & omissions of corruption deliberately committed by Shri R K Jain & by his coterie  as reported by the Whisle blower twice in 2017 to none other than the Hon’ble RM . The whistle Blower Sr. A. O. Grade -1 has been hoping against hope for last more than 03 months to let the good sense prevail in the mind of  Shri R K Jain ,aristocrat director of JCB, Delhi for his entry in his duty place . He has sought time to meet in this regard twice through his representations dated 19-12-2017 & dated 23-01-2018 submitted to the present RM but of no avail. he even submitted his representation dated 22-12-2017 to Shri Zakwan Ahmed, present DG (R&M) , DRDO HQ, N.Delhi but again of no avail. He even met 2-3 times to Shri Gopal Bhusan, present DOP, DRDO HQ & he also met present secretary, DDR&D on 03-01-2018 to redress his genuine service matter long  Grievances & the Secretary even assured him to redress his Grievance mentioned in his representation dated 16-10-2017 with in next 15 days i. e. by 18-01-2018 but he did nothing to redress the service matter Grievances  & to remove  the deliberate illegality continuously committed in last 03 months in the form of illegally banning the entry of the whisle blower in his place of duty.   The CVC advised the CVO of MOD thrice through its 03 O Ms sent in 2016 to  the CVO, MOD to restore posting of the Whistle blower Shri Prakash Singh  in LASTEC, Delhi against his 03 vindictive transfers issued in 2016 but the present Secretary, present & the then  & present DOPs, DRDO HQ & the then & present  DG (HRs) had not taken any action to protect the service interest of the Whistle Blower & to implement the Advice of the CVC. The Whistle Blower  has been continuously harassed in one or the other form either by not assigning him his charter of duties  or by restricting his entry in his duty place .The then RM considered Shri PRAKASH SINGH as Whistle Blower   on the Advice of CVC & quashed the  Major penalty inflicted upon him vide DRDO HQ Order dated 30-12-2012 on false charges . The then RM even ordered  vide MOD ID No. PCto 470/ /DO(Vig)/2012 dated 19-10-2015  that those who trumped up false charges & committed a number of procedural irregularities with a single minded objective of harassing Shri PRAKASH SINGH , the then SAO-II needs to be identified & taken to the task for their mala-fide action.& action int his regard may be taken immediately & D(Vig) also be informed of the action taken in the matter on fortnightly basis.  Stiil no action has been taken against any of the officials of DRDO, MOD as yet although the Whistle Blower submitted the names of 22 officials of DRDO, MOD vide his through proper channel complaint dated 28-12-2015 submitted to the then RM who illegally harassed him & the present Secretary , present DG (ECS),   the then & present Director (Vigilance & Security) , DRDO HQ ,the then & present  DOPs,& the then & present DG(HR) DRDO HQ, New Delhi during October 2015 to till to date  have tried their best  save the Prime Facie guilty officials of DRDO, MOD who illegally harassed the whistle blower.

07 confidential complaints submitted by the Whistle Blower  in November 2017 to the present RM have been kept unactioned in DRDO HQ   for last more than 03 months  to demoralize the Whistle Blower. These facts speak volume about the state of affairs going on in DRDO, MOD particularly with regard to the HR matters.

The poor tax payer’s lakhs & lakhs of money is being wasted by this Director and Dr Christopher has no time to solve the issues.

Madam, as citizen of India it is not understandable why the HR practices of this premier organization are the way they are. Although  our honorable prime minister already sensed in a first look that this organization Motto is “Chalta Hai” and the hundreds of court cases, neck deep corruption(specially please ask construction expenses year wise), highly prevailing nepotism (anyone can see the incompetent frog jumps) itself is self explanatory.

It is therefore requested, to honorable defence minister madam, since you also find some issues on your table,  to kindly  make a serious effort to improve the HR conditions in DRDO lest it goes to complete collapse.

With great hope, Jaihind

Regards

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,

21-Sunderwala, Raipur,

Dehradun-248008

Phone – 0135-2787750 | Mobile – 9411114879

Email – prabhudoon@gmail.com | website – www.corruptionindrdo.com

Another officials fight at DMSRDE, Kanpur.

Drdo

RTI-Army – Misutilization of Army manpower in DRDO

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To                                                                                          23 December 2017

The CPIO, MoD (Army)
RTI Cell, G-6, D-1 Wing, Sena Bhawan
Integrated Headquarter of MoD (Army)
DHQ PO, New Delhi 110011

Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of rules position to use army manpower deputed to DRDO for various assignments. It is observed that in DRDO scientists and services officers are using army jawans for their personal service, like cleaning private vehicles, using as driver in their personal cars in office hours and after office hours even in holidays. In VRDE, DRDO, Ahemadnagar Lt Col Praveen Kumar utilizing army manpower Sh  Vaidya Mahesh  in his personal service. The enclosed pictures are self explanatory.

Please find some pictures of Army jawans performing duty for private vehicles of Dr DP Singh Scientist, EMU, DRDO Dehradun engaged a private Scorpio in contract since few years. The vehicle is fully painted with Bharat Sarkar, Raksha Mantralay, EMU, DRDO etc.

  1. Please provide the rules position for utilizing army jawans for personal works by services officers deputed to DRDO and DRDO scientists.
  2. Whether it is allowed by Indian army (Yes/No)
  3. Any disciplinary action can be initiate by competent authority if it is come under misutilization of army jawans or other ranks (Yes/No)
  4. If yes then in case of services officers deputed in DRDO who will the competent authority.
  5. If yes then in case of DRDO scientists who will the competent authority.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal

21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008

Phone – 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,

e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com  website – www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed

  1. Photographs from VRDE, DRDO, Ahemadnagar
  2. Photographs from EMU, DRDO Dehradun

Registration Number            MODEF/R/2017/53235

Drdo

DRDO chief is hopeful about Arjun Mark-II tank getting accepted by army

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Sandip Dighe | TNN | Updated: Oct 23, 2017,
PUNE: The chairman of defence research and development organisation (DRDO), S Christopher, sounded hopeful on Sunday about the Indian Army accepting the Arjun Mark-II tank after certain modifications recommended by the army were incorporated.
Speaking on the sidelines of a function at the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Christopher told TOI, “We have carried out certain modifications as recommended by the army. The tank will go through trials and there is every possibility that it will be accepted considering that the army has already agreed to induct the tank in two regiments.” 
The DRDO chief was on a visit to DIAT — a deemed university under the defence ministry — for the inauguration of the 21st batch of Post Induction Training School (POINTS), a programme for newly inducted DRDO scientists. He also held a meeting with senior scientists.
The army had recommended nearly 71 modifications to the tank and had asked the DRDO to redesign the hull and the turret structures and use new materials in order to reduce the weight. The weight of the Mark-I is 62 tonne while Arjun Mark-II is 68 tonne.
A senior army officer from the armoured corps, told TOI on Sunday, “The army has a major issue with the weight of Mark-II as it will not meet its operational requirements in the western sectors where the tank will be deployed in future. During the past trials, it had come to our notice that the tank is heavier than the existing culvert, thereby, making mobility a major issue. It was, therefore, paramount to recommend a reduction in weight of the tank from an operational point of view.”
A senior DRDO scientist closely associated with the project said, “The army had specified their operational requirement on three aspects — weight, missile firing capability and ammunition. We have addressed these issues. Besides, we have kept the agility and mobility of the tank at par with the existing one. We are confident that the tank will meet the army’s requirements in the trials.” The army has about 3,500 tanks mostly comprising the old T-72 and the improvised T-90 tanks.

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PMO snubs DRDO over Peikarumbu expo launch

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By Pradip R Sagar | Express News Service | Published: 27th July 2017 08:57 AM |
Last Updated: 27th July 2017 08:57 AM
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has snubbed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), when it requested Narendra Modi to inaugurate an exhibition planned at Peikarumbu, near the memorial of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam that would be opened on Thursday.

With most of the DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long range surface-to-air missile systems, repeatedly missing deadlines and facing huge cost overruns, Modi’s outright rejection to inaugurate an exhibition at the venue of the memorial of a former DRDO is seen as his attempt to distance from the white elephant (DRDO), which often faced criticism. In fact, during his first interaction with DRDO scientists, Modi had sent a stern message to the agency for their ‘Chalta hai’ (lackadaisical) attitude.

The DRDO had planned an exhibition of its products with the theme ‘Science for Soldier and Society’ alongside the PM’s event, adjacent to Kalam’s memorial. Top scientists from its nearly 30 laboratories were engaged for this by the DRDO’s headquarters and its Bengaluru-based lab Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) was made event coordinator.

But much to their chagrin, the PMO not only turned down the request to ope the exhibition, but also denied permission to hold mega event close to the memorial. “Special Protection Group, the agency responsible for PM’s security, has refused permission for the exhibition adjacent to the venue,” said a top official.
Left with no options, the DRDO has moved the exhibition to Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, one of its labs functioning at Avadi in Chennai. DRDO chief S Christopher will inaugurate it on Friday.

When contacted, DRDO spokesperson Manish Bhardwaj refused to divulge the details. “Shifting of the venue happened due to space constraints,” Bhardwaj said.
According to a statement issued by the PMO on Wednesday, Modi will inaugurate Kalam’s memorial on Thursday morning and later flag off ‘Kalam Sandesh Vahini’, an exhibition bus which would travel across various states to reach Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 15, the birth anniversary of the Kalam.

The PMO also stated that Prime Minister will then proceed to Mandapam for the public meeting, where he will distribute sanction letters to the beneficiaries of longliner trawlers under the Blue Revolution Scheme. He will also flag off a new Express train from Ayodhya to Rameswaram via videoconferencing. Modi will release a synopsis of the Green Rameswaram Project and will unveil a plaque to mark the dedication to the nation of the 9.5 km Link Road on NH 87, which runs between Mukundarayar Chathiram and Arichalmunai. Modi will conclude his visit by addressing a public meeting.

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Making Money in DRDO – A simple guide for Dummies

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More stern and steadfast our honorable PM Modi ji becomes to eradicate corruption, more derisive and deceitful DRDO officials become to devise novel methods to siphon off public funds. They are least bothered about propriety or financial prudence in handling public money; on the other hand, they have mastered expertise of the methods to simply transfer funds for non-existing civil works and projects. They are so audacious and open in corrupt practices, at the end of the day they cock a snookat the ever struggling government. They have forgotten their duty to serve the nation and more afflicted with desire for power, pelf and perks and deep in corruption.

One of the civil works wing in DRDO, namely, CCE(R&D) is made for, made by and made of DRDO Scientists,is well known for making money out of nothing. Many government departments indulge in corruption by 30 to 40 %;but, here’s a department expertise in making 100% money for fictitious work. The steps followed by Bangalore based Dummies Guru and his stooges (Aka Alibaba and Chaalis Chor) are given below:

Step 1: Decide how much public funds to be siphoned off and create a fictitious work. Identify a subordinate office with Amiable Docile Employees, who will not question any atrocious attitude of Dalal (of corruption) Guru, who is basically heading a bunch of Audacious Egoistic Reckless Officers.

Step 2: Make a statement of case for this subordinate officer without their knowledge whatever crude way, as those sitting in higher office will not scrutinize the case. The sanctioning authority needs just one paper mentioning amount with signatures, no need to be clear about scope of work, building, work site etc.

Step 3: Move papers secretly without finance concurrence as the work referred is to another organization, this civil work was never existed.Get sanction of work to ever obliging Project Management Office and funds bypassing finance with audacious change of code head from revenue items into capital items (like staircase railings are shown as capital items and there is no need for finance concurrence up to 1.2 crores) and take sanction from DRDO top within this limit.

Step 4: All documents and work fabricated, silently work completion certificate created and funds transferred to predetermined contractor.

Step 5: After sharing booty, all gangster of gangs, celebrate the event watching a movie titled Hum Sab Chor Hai.

In this sample case, A Pretending Nangnaach Timid fellow, who helped earlier his boss, who was Master of Self Certification and fake doctorates in obscure topics, in escaping from the hot wheels taxi misuse case, is again at his old games. He sells himself to be tool in creating non-existing works, fabricating statement of case and obtain surreptitiously sanction for a work. He has heisted the heinous crime on non-suspecting Amiable Docile Employees of another organization. This is a case of blatant misuse of power and fraud on the system. This person even today shamelessly used taxi every day morning and evening from his house to office and back at the official cost while taxi will run vacant two times about 35 to 40 km just to take care of him.

The above example of clearly shows how these greats are at play in obtaining sanction for non-existent works with least respect to the rule book (surprisingly quite often emphasized by own vigilance division), that too for the fabricated work for the other organization. This is especially true for CCE (R&D) which is run by DRDO scientists and any time at the beckon of DG’s and those at HQr. They can do anything and get away with public funds running into lakhs and crores.

It wouldn’t be far off from truth that these worthies, the so called upholder of discipline and legitimate rights to rule DRDO (as per their wish and whims), have mastered the methods to circumvent the well laid down procedures in the system and financial controls to siphon off the public funds with impunity. Now, see the fun, once this report on the ice berg of systematized corruption is out, these dalals of corruption will, instead of retrospection and correction, start witch hunting because how dare someone can question top person indulging in money making business.

Jai ho DRDO.

Drdo

Shut Down Laboratories And Overhaul The DRDO, Expert Committee Tells Defence Ministry

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All non-core research activity of the DRDO must stop.
Sudhi Ranjan Sen Deputy Editor (News)  The Huffington Post 14/03/2017 3:40 PM IST

HINDUSTAN TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES The Arjun tank stationed on the Parliament House premises for an exhibition in August 2016 in New Delhi, India.

India’s premier defence research organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), needs a major overhaul, some its research laboratories closed and the organisation needs to concentrate only on development of defence platforms, a high-level committee appointed by the Ministry of Defence has said in its report.

In the last five years, DRDO has been getting between ₹6,000-₹8,000 crore annually for defence research — roughly 6% of the defence budget.

The DRDO was set up in 1958 to achieve self-reliance in manufacturing weapon systems to equip the armed forces. It has over 33,000 personnel, which includes nearly 8,000 scientists, 13,000 technicians, and 52 laboratories. Its area of research is wide and encompasses everything, from juices to nuclear missiles.

Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had constituted the committee led by Lieutenant General DB Shekatkar (Retired) in May 2016 to suggest ways to enhance the combat capabilities of India. The panel submitted its 550-page report to the government recently.

Top sources told HuffPost India the committee has said as many as 11 laboratories of the DRDO need to closed down or amalgamated and its “non-crore” research activities stopped. The committee also said that DRDO needs to work with “clearly defined” objectives to develop “weapon systems and platforms”.
Instead of the DRDO deciding on areas and focus of research, the committee has recommended setting up of a “Technology Commission”, headed by the defence minister, with representatives from the armed forces. The commission should formulate research and development policy and even set specific deadlines for research.

The committee feels that end-users — the three services — must be consulted on areas of research and development of weapon systems. To break the red-tape in the DRDO, the committee has suggested that DRDO scientists be given incentives for successful completion of projects.

Suggesting further reforms, the DB Shekatkar Committee has also said that Ordnance Factory Boards (OFB) — which produce bulk of the ammunition and weapons used by the forces — should consult the armed forces when inducting new technology or material. It has pointed to the fact that OFB, which produce rifles, wasn’t aware of the exact weight of the guns it was producing.

Interestingly, the committee has said that OFB needs to include private companies and has suggested using private-public partnerships to speed up production, ensure better quality and cut down delays.

This isn’t the first time an overhaul of the DRDO has been recommended. Questions have been frequently raised about the delays and cost over-runs in DRDO projects.

In a 2015 report, the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) had pointed out that audit examination of 14 mission mode projects, carried out by DRDO laboratories, “revealed that all projects failed to achieve their timelines and the probable date of completion (PDC) was extended many a times”.

These mission mode projects include the crucial S-band surveillance system ‘Rohini’ radars, secure video and fax communication between airborne platforms and ground station ‘Meghdoot’ and electronic warfare suit for the modified MIG-29 fighters.

The delays, the CAG pointed out, “were mainly due to inadequate monitoring”.

 

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DRDO scientists bunk meet, canteen boy gives presentation on security

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By Pradip R Sagar | Express News Service | Published: 09th October 2016
NEW DELHI: During his first interaction with the DRDO scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed a stern message to them — “Shed this ‘chalta hai’ attitude.”

However, it seems that things have plunged to a new low.

drdo_scien-diberAt a conference, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) asked a canteen boy to give a presentation on ‘border security’ because the scientists who were supposed to hold the session didn’t turn up.

There’s more to the story. In the absence of experts, and to make up numbers, the DRDO sent peons, drivers, mechanics, storekeepers and other non-technical staff to attend the conference.

“We didn’t have suitable candidates to represent us, so some laboratories sent administrative and non-technical staff, including Class-4 employees to fill in the chairs,” said a DRDO official.

Quoting a senior official, an insider told Express, “I was told, ‘let them (peons, drivers, store attendants, canteen boys) also enjoy and have a picnic.’”

The conference, which was regarding the DRDO’s contribution in managing border security in the Himalayan region, was held on Thursday and Friday.
It was organised by the DRDO’s Uttarakhand-based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio-energy and non- conventional energy for defence forces. Six key laboratories were asked to send their representatives to participate in the conference.

The idea behind the two-day conference titled ‘Vaigyanik Evam Takniki Sanghoshti’ was to promote use of Hindi language.
Sources claim that since the conference was organised in Pithoragarh district (Uttarakhand), which is close to the China border, many senior scientists expressed their unwillingness to travel 600 km in the hilly terrain and cited “ill health” or “personal” reasons for saying “no”.
The institutes which sent their representatives included Institute of Technology Management (Mussoorie), Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (Dehradun), Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (Chandigarh) and Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (Chandigarh) and DIBER. The DRDO has often faced criticism for its tardy performance, resulting in more than 70 per cent dependence of India’s armed forces on foreign players.the-sunday-standard-9-oct-2016diber1

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DRDO goes young with Modi

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By Pradip R Sagar
Published: 02 Oct 2016 The Sunday Standard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: In order to weed out the dead woods, country’s premier defence research agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is often faced criticism for its tardy performance, is looking for young scientist to head one of its laboratory. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advise to DRDO to hire young scientists, not over the age of 35 years to head at least five laboratories of defence research agency.

Following PM’s advise, Uttarakhand based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio energy and non conventional energy for defence use, has invited applications from candidates before the age of 35 years to head the lab. Officials claim this is the first step in the chain of events to give important role to young scientists, as Modi government has already banned giving extensions to scientists who have completed their tenure. It is notable that till two years back, DRDO’s top 15 scientists were on extension of service.
drdo-logoPM Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists had sent a stern message to defence research agency for their ‘chalta hai’ attitude, as most of DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems have been missing repeated deadlines with huge cost overruns.
But sources in the agency said, appointing youch scientists to head laboratories may not go down well with senior scientists working with defence research.

But, officials said that hiring of Director of lab below the age of 35 years will send message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver. Modi has last year short listed Satish Reddy, the youngest ever scientific advisor to the defence minsitry.

“Certainly it’s an effort to get rid of non-performing scientists. Merely age seniority will not matter. If India wants to be a superpower, our defence research has to be cutting edge. India remains to be top buyer of military hardware globally with nearly 70 per cent defence requirements meet by imports,” said an officer. It is the successful government’s failure to build a strong domestic defence industrial base due to sluggish performance of 52 DRDO laboratories, five defence PSUs , four shipyards and 39 Ordnance factories.diber-director

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DRDO’s bio-toilets raise a stink

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By Hemant Kumar Rout Published: 13th August 2016 – The New Indian Express
BHUBANESWAR: The much-hyped bio-toilets invented by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and installed in railway coaches, public places and colonies seem to have sparked of a controversy with some senior scientists raising voice against the functioning and technology which allegedly uses cow dung instead of imported bacteria.

Developed by Gwalior-based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) and Tezpur-based Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), both laboratories of DRDO, the bio-toilets, fondly known as ‘E-loo’, use anaerobic microbial bacteria to decompose and convert biological human excreta into usable water and gasses.
DRDO e looThough initially, the bio-toilets installed in high-altitude regions such as Siachen and Ladakh performed as expected for a certain period, now many of them are reportedly abandoned or unused for obvious reasons leading to objections from the armed forces.
While the DRDO said the anaerobic bacteria have been imported from Antarctica and can effectively function in extreme conditions and temperature ranging from -6 degree Celsius to 50 degree C, a group of DRDO scientists claimed that the imported bacteria cannot survive in high temperature.

“Since such type of anaerobic bacteria are abundantly available in cow dung, the cattle waste is now being used in bio-toilets while the research organisation is hoodwinking the people in the name of technology development by wasting crores. Like the bio-toilets, the normal septic toilets also have a perfect anaerobic environment with the only difference being addition of cow dung in the name of inoculum culture in the former,” they said.

According to senior DRDO scientist Dr Y Ashok Babu, who has lodged a complaint with the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) seeking a probe into it, the imported bacteria worked perfectly well in the laboratory but did not work efficiently in the Siachen region, for which a solar panel heating system was added to accelerate digestion process.

“There is no requirement of specific bacteria in the normal temperature and local bacteria in the septic tank will do the same task more efficiently if cow dung is added to it. The technology is a farce which allows a handful of greedy business people to earn crores of rupees,” the complaint stated.

DRDE Director Dr Lokendra Singh, however, refuted the allegations. He said the cow dung is used only to multiply the bacteria brought from Antarctica, which can survive in Indian conditions. “Actually the cow dung used in the toilets is not the cattle waste but the bacteria which are transported through it. The toilets are working perfectly for which the Railways has given bulk orders,” he claimed.

The DRDO has so far made the transfer of technology (ToT) agreement with 56 companies which are producing bio-toilets at a cost ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 75 lakh depending on the volume of population using it and quality of materials.

Singh informed that while already 40,000 bio-toilets have been installed in railway coaches, additional 80,000 toilets are to be installed shortly. Besides, around 20,000 E-loos have been placed in colonies, urban areas and villages. The Indian Railways has planned to install 2.5 lakh toilets in all coaches by October 2, 2019

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