Tag Archives: government

Drdo

No extensions sans ACC okay: Government to DRDO

5 Comments

By Aman Sharma, ET Bureau | 27 Sep, 2014,

NEW DELHI: In a message to the Defence Research Development Organisation that has over a dozen scientists working on tenures beyond 60, the government has frowned at the tendency of giving extensions to scientists without consulting the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be unhappy with DRDO’s functioning and had recently advocated that five out of the 52 DRDO labs be manned by young scientists after reports with the government revealed that as many as 358 scientists had quit DRDO between 2009 and 2013.

A government note sent on Friday to nine ministries and departments which have specialists in scientific or medical fields, including DRDO and Department of Space, the Department of Personnel and Training has said that the ACC headed by the prime minister has observed that in some cases, departments have unilaterally extended the service officers beyond the age of superannuation without obtaining the approval of ACC.

“It is reiterated that in absence of specific approval of ACC towards extension of services beyond the date of superannuation, an officer should stand retired on his date of superannuation and under no circumstances should the Ministry/Department extend his services beyond superannuation unilaterally without approval of ACC,” the note says. This also comes on the heels of the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission where Modi had praised scientists at ISRO for the feat.

In Friday’s note, the policy drawn up by the NDA government in 2002 was pointed to, which said that any tenure extensions to scientists should be “only in really exceptional circumstances” and only if the retiring specialist “is not just one of the outstanding officers but is really head and shoulders above the rest”.

That policy also said that too many cases of extensions are likely to cause “frustration and affect morale of upcoming scientists who have exposure to latest technological developments.” In 2012, DRDO admitted that 37 scientists — 12 of whom were in distinguished category — were on extended tenures. This was despite the Rama Rao Committee, which carried out the first external review of DRDO in 2008, calling for a younger profile of top scientists. DRDO secretary Avinash Chander is also working on an extension.

ET had reported on August 23 that Modi was not happy about this situation and had sought all details after he was told about the high attrition rate among younger scientists. Friday’s note also goes out to the departments of Atomic Energy, Science and Technology, Scientific and Industrial Research, Information Technology and Environment Ministry.extension dopt

Drdo

Ex-DRDO Chief Gets Jail Sentence

2 Comments

By T S Sekaran Published: 26th September 2014 The New Indian Express

CHENNAI: Dr V K Saraswat, former Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence and Director General, DRDO and Dr G Malakondaiah, former Director of DMRL in Hyderabad have been ordered to undergo simple imprisonment for three weeks by the Madras High Court for not obeying the court’s orders passed way back in in 2009.

A division bench of justices S Rajeswaran and P N Prakash awarded the punishment while allowing a contempt application from S Joseph Raj, on Wednesday.

Raj lost his job as the school in which he was working as a librarian was closed. Holding that he was not a Central government employee, the government refused to reinstate him. Confirming the orders of the Central Administrative Tribunal, a division bench of the Madras High Court had directed the government to consider Raj for the post of Senior Technical Assistant.

Contending that this order had not been complied with, Raj filed the present contempt petition. “Even though an appointment order had been issued on July 14, 2009 to Joseph Raj, the duo did not allow him to join duty. Thereafter, they suppressed this fact before the Supreme Court. Therefore, we find that the duo have wilfully disobeyed the orders of this court,” the court said in its order.

Drdo

Former DRDO chief sentenced to 3 weeks in jail

2 Comments

PTI Chennai, September 26, 2014 Hindustan Times

Former DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat and another senior scientist were on Thursday sentenced to three weeks simple imprisonment by Madras High Court for committing contempt of court by disobeying its April 2009 order related to re-employment of a clerk in a school run by a wing of the organisation.

Taking a serious view of the non-implementation of its order, a division bench comprising Justice S Rajeswaran and Justice P N Prakash awarded three weeks simple imprisonment to Saraswat and Director of Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Dr G Malakondaiah and directed them to pay a fine of Rs. 2,000 each personally.

The court was allowing a contempt of court petition by S Joseph Raj, who was an employee of the school run by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) at suburban Avadi here. The bench directed the Government to take appropriate departmental action against them for the “reckless, negligence and willful disobedience of the order of the Court”.

The court held Saraswat, a Padmabhushan awardee and former Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), guilty of Civil Contempt under the contempt of courts Act, 1971. When CVRDE closed the school, he and other employees approached the Central Administrative Tribunal challenging it.

Even after several rounds of litigations before CAT and the High Court and Supreme Court, he was made to suffer, it noted. On April 30, 2009, the High Court directed the two officials to appoint Joseph Jaj as Senior Technical Assistant (Library Science) within a period of two months.

However, the officials on April 13, 2012, passed an order stating that Joseph Raj was not eligible to be considered as Senior Technical Assitant (Library Science) and that he was not a government servant, prompting him to file the present contempt petition.

“We find the above officers were doing everything within their powers to deny a just benefit to Joseph Raj. We are aware that the officers are occupying very high position in the government, but ensconced in a pedestal, their vision became blurred when it came to the travails of an ordinary employee who was suddenly thrown out of employment, for no fault of his,” the judges said.

It said that even during the contempt proceedings, there was no tinge of remorse or an attempt to correct the mistake by the two officials. “Therefore, we propose to impose punishment of sentence of imprisonment on the above officials for their willful disobedience of this court order,” it held.

The court also warned the above officials that it was not an end of the matter and directed them to comply with the order forthwith in the matter of appointment.

Drdo

Former DRDO chief sentenced to 3 weeks imprisonment in contempt case

Leave a comment

India Today.in New Delhi, September 25, 2014

Former DRDO chief V K Saraswat and another senior scientist were on Thursday sentenced to three weeks simple imprisonment by Madras High Court for contempt of court. They had disobeyed its April 2009 order related to re-employment of a clerk in a school run by a wing of the organisation.

Taking a serious view of the non-implementation of its order, a division bench comprising Justice S Rajeswaran and Justice P N Prakash awarded three weeks simple imprisonment to Saraswat and Director of Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, G Malakondaiah and directed them to pay a fine of Rs.2,000 each personally, PTI reported.

The court was allowing a contempt of court petition by S Joseph Raj, who was an employee of the school run by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) at suburban Avadi here.

The bench directed the Government to take appropriate departmental action against them for the “reckless, negligence and willful disobedience of the order of the Court”.

The court held Saraswat, a Padmabhushan awardee and former Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), guilty of Civil Contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

When CVRDE closed the school, he and other employees approached the Central Administrative Tribunal challenging it.

Even after several rounds of litigations before CAT and the High Court and Supreme Court, he was made to suffer, it noted.

On April 30, 2009, the High Court directed the two officials to appoint Joseph Jaj as Senior Technical Assistant (Library Science) within a period of two months.

However, the officials on April 13, 2012, passed an order stating that Joseph Raj was not eligible to be considered as Senior Technical Assistant (Library Science) and that he was not a government servant, prompting him to file the present contempt petition.

“We find the above officers were doing everything within their powers to deny a just benefit to Joseph Raj. We are aware that the officers are occupying very high position in the government, but ensconced in a pedestal, their vision became blurred when it came to the travails of an ordinary employee who was suddenly thrown out of employment, for no fault of his,” the judges said.

It said that even during the contempt proceedings, there was no tinge of remorse or an attempt to correct the mistake by the two officials.

“Therefore, we propose to impose punishment of sentence of imprisonment on the above officials for their willful disobedience of this court order,” it held.

The court also warned the above officials that it was not an end of the matter and directed them to comply with the order forthwith in the matter of appointment.

 

Drdo

Dire need to speed up DRDO’s output

Leave a comment

Lt Gen Harwant Singh (retd), Hindustan Times  Chandigarh, August 29, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to speed up projects and advance delivery schedules. He has said that India can be world leader in defence technology and show the way forward to the world.

These are very high expectations and there is nothing in the DRDO’s past performance to generate such great hopes. In fact, the record of this organisation is extremely dismal.

There is no accountability and it has never been put through a science audit, in spite of repeated demands.

On the urging of the parliamentary committee on defence, a revamp of DRDO was carried out. Nothing much happened, except for some cosmetic changes, which are of little consequence.

We continue to import even low-technology equipment where over 70% of weapons and equipment is imported. Think of the outflow of foreign exchange and the jobs lost.

While the Prime Minister is unaware of the DRDO capabilities and potential, but surely, Arun Jaitley, the part-time defence minister, who has been in Parliament for a long time and is expected to have paid attention to debates on defence matters, ought to know better and, therefore, should have briefed the Prime Minister to lower his expectations from this organisation. In the past, these false hopes of delivery by DRDO have kept in limbo the deployment of private industry in this field.

DRDO budget

The DRDO budget has been 5% to 7% of the defence budget with allocations for major projects such as LCA, Arjun tank, etc being over and above this budgeted figure. Much of this amount has gone into civil works. If any proof of this lavish expenditure is required, one need go no further than have a look at the DRDO office complex at the rear of South Block and then of course see Sena Bhavan as well.

Those in the ministry of defence (MoD), who exercise control over DRDO, are blissfully ignorant of what defence equipment is all about. In weapons, they can’t tell a gun from a howitzer, and in engines, a cam shaft from a crank shaft. Projects can hang fire for decades while those responsible for these continue to move up the promotion ladder and so do those of the MoD who control them.

There is little understanding and mutual confidence between the DRDO and the defence services. The Prime Minister is aware of the disconnect, and that is why he impressed upon the DRDO to involve user in the development of military weapons and equipment.

The DRDO never spells out its technological status in relation to the equipment to be developed. With the result, GSQRs are prepared without proper interaction with the DRDO, but keeping in mind what is already in the market.

The DRDO never seeks the scaling down of the GSQRs to a level at which it can handle projects, in the full knowledge and belief that the project can be dragged on endlessly and that no one will be called upon to account. Once a project is taken on, complete secrecy prevails and service officers posted with these establishments are kept out of the loop.

Little achievement

The DRDO in stand-alone mode has achieved little and will not be able to meet the future needs of the armed forces. It has shown little skill and capability in the field of even reverse engineering of comparatively simple equipment. This is legacy of the Nehruvian policies of entrusting all this to the public sector (DRDO in this case). Since then vested interests have opposed any change in this moribund policy.

When the USSR broke up, some governments of east European countries offered to shift state-of-the-art defence industries to other countries. India spurned these offers, while China took two thousand scientists and some of the defence industrial units. In India, there is a politico-bureaucratic nexus which has successfully thwarted such moves, for obvious reasons. There is so much money to be made in imports, the Augusta helicopter being the more recent example.

However, the government did go in for military technology cooperation with the Russian government and later with some others for joint development of cutting-edge defence technologies. So far, this has been a one-sided affair, ending, essentially in transfer of technology and the attendant cost.

Measures to be taken

If the new government is to make a positive impact on the future indigenous development of defence technologies, production of such equipment within the country and its export, it need shed the hope of achieving this with only the DRDO efforts. It needs to consider some of these measures:

Close down those establishments of DRDO which are busy re-inventing the wheel, and those whose tasks can best be done in the private sector. Get it out of the control of the MoD. Equally do away with most of the defence ordnance factories. Pass on production of such equipment to the private sector.

It is DRDO component grouped with the navy that has performed well. This has essentially been due to direct control that the navy has exercised over this component. Of the three establishments, one is always commanded by a naval officer and the other two have a number of naval officers on their establishment. Thus a series of projects have been successfully completed: some on their own and some others as part of collaboration with certain foreign companies. Nuclear submarine is one such example.

Restructure the MoD as an integrated organisation, consisting of bureaucrats, defence services staff, scientists and financial experts. It would ensure better coordination, cutting out duplication and triplication of work, improved efficiency and speedy decision-making. Integrated defence planning and defence technology development have become an inescapable necessity. Such a step will be opposed, tooth and nail, by the bureaucracy but it is the political executive which must take the final call.

Implement the Arun Singh Committee report, as accepted by the cabinet, and adopt the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) system. The DRDO needs to be placed under the CDS, which will result in mutual confidence and better interaction with the services and bring in efficiency and good performance.

Pending adoption of the CDS system, DRDO’s various establishments need to be grouped with the army and IAF on same lines as for the navy.

If we are serious in attracting high-tech equipment manufacturing companies to collaborate with Indian companies, then the FDI limit will have to be increased to 51%. The FDI limit of 49% announced by the finance minister was perhaps on the advice of the babus and urgings by others with vested interests. The Prime Minister during his forthcoming visit to the US must throw open invitation to American defence industry to establish manufacturing facilities in India, in collaboration with Indian companies.

Unless the above listed steps are urgently taken, and the status quo broken, the Prime Minister’s expectations of India developing high-end defence equipment and becoming self-sufficient in this field and being an exporter of such equipment will remain a distant dream.

(The writer, a former deputy chief of army staff, is commentator on security and defence matters. The views expressed are personal)

Drdo

RTI – DRL, Tezpur – Blender’s Pride, Royal Challenge, Red Wine, Rum, Beer

10 Comments
To,                                                                                           4th September 2014
Dr. RB Sharma, CPIO,
DRDO HQ, Min. of Defence,
DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg,
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 7th conference of Medical Arthropodology at DRL, Tezpur. As published in The Sentinel TEZPUR, December 12: A two–day–long national 7th conference of Medical Arthropodology sponsored by the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India was inaugurated at Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur by Dr W Selvamurthy (PhD in Yoga).

  1. Provide the total sanctioned amount from DRDO for 7th conference of Medical Arthropodology with certified copy of sanctioned letter of DRDO.
  2. Provide the total expenditure of conference as per SB A/C opened in Axis Bank, Tezpur specifically opened for said purpose.
  3. Provide the total amount collected from various vendors in the name of said conference.
  4. Provide the total amount collected as registration fee for said conference from participants firms.
  5. Provide the permission single day bar license from local exercise authority for the use of liquor/wine for said conference dinner.
  6. Provide the permission and fund allocation of DRDO Hqrs for purchasing liquor/wine for said conference.

Note :  If Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL purchased liquor/wine for said conference without assigned fund for  liquor/wine head by DRDO Hqrs, then it means it is matter of corruption, misuse of government funds. The copy of approval for purchase of liquor/wine enclosed herewith.

Regards

Prabhu  Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun -248008 
0135- 2787750,   9411114879,  
prabhudoon@gmail.com    www.corruptionindrdo.com

The copy of approval of Dr Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, DRDO, Tezpur for purchase of liquor/wine
The copy of approval of Dr Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, DRDO, Tezpur for purchase of liquor/wine

Online  RTI Registration Number MODEF/R/2014/61607

7th conference of Medical Arthropodology at DRL, Tezpur

The Sentinel- TEZPUR, December 12: A two–day–long national 7th conference of Medical Arthropodology sponsored by the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India was inaugurated at Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur by Dr W Selvamurthy, former distinguished scientist and chief controller (life sciences), DRDO and presently president, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF) as well as Chair Professor, Life Sciences, Amity University, Noida. The central theme of the conference is herbal insecticides, biomedicine and biodefence in vector borne disease management. In his inaugural address of the conference as chief guest, Dr Selvamuthy lauded the role played by DRL in controlling vector and vector borne diseases and vector surveillance in North East India. Vector borne diseases are particularly rampant in tropical and sub–tropical countries. In India, malaria, dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis and Japanese encephalitis are considered major public health problems. DRL has developed several herbal based insect repellent formulations which have been of much benefit for the troops stationed in this part of the country.
Earlier, Dr Vijay Veer, Director of DRL, Tezpur welcomed all the invited dignitaries and guests from services, academia and industry, participants and research scholars coming from different parts of the country to DRL. In his welcome speech, Dr Veer said Medical Arthropodology is an incredibly exciting discipline with the largest number of species under single specific group of animals, the arthropods, highlighting their biomedical and biodefence significance. Most of the arthropods are not harmful to humans and many are highly beneficial organisms. Still, many isolated group of spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks and particularly, insects concern humans because of their harmful nature of causing injuries through their poisonous bites and stings distributing the tranquillity of human’s living environment. They also play a key role in the transmission of a large number of diseases responsible for the massive human suffering.

The inaugural meeting was also addressed by Dr J Mahanta, Director, RMRC (ICMR), Dibrugrah, Dr BK Tyagi, Director, CRME (ICMR), Madurai and Brigadier AB Khare, Brig (Med), HQ Gajraj Corps, Tezpur. The book of abstracts of the conference as well as a Catalogue of Research & Development Products & Technologies developed by DRL was released on the occasion by Dr W Selvamurthy and other dignitaries. A bio–bibliography of Dr Devinder Singh, Professor, Punjabi University, Patiala and renowned forensic entomologist and Dr Jagadish Mahanta, Director, RMRC (ICMR), Dibrugarh and renowned biomedical scientist was released for their significant contribution to scientific research and to commemorate the 7th conference of Medical Arthropodology. A science exhibition displaying the products developed by DRL and a poster session was inaugurated by the chief guest.

Apart from a galaxy of eminent scientists, nearly 70 delegates will take part in the two day conference. There will be four technical sessions on the theme “Arthropod borne diseases”, “Herbal insecticides & biomedicine” and “Arthropods and biodefence” which included keynote lectures, invited lectures and oral presentations. The conference is expected to provide a unique opportunity and common platform for all scientists and researchers working in multi–disciplinary fields of life sciences and medical sciences to discuss the possible conventional and prospective herbal insecticide designs, as well as bio–medical and biodefence significance of arthropods to help us get prepared in advance to combat effectively any untoward catastrophe where insects or their allies are used as the carriers. Dr I Baruah, Head, Medical Entomology Division of DRL OFFERED the vote of thanks. This was stated in a press release.

Drdo

Another Proofs of Incompetency of Dr A K Singh, DOP and Dr Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur

3 Comments

In DRDO HR and Misadministration problems are in peak and these are only due to incompetent scientists who are looking DRDO administration on the advice of foreign elements that is AFHQ cadre officials who are in deputation and enjoying DRDO facilities. These officials arein deputation in DRDO and they don’t have any, accountability and loyalty with DRDO and not concerned about reputation of DRDO.

DRDO senior officials are moving around them for mere small benefits as DOP run on advices of these AFHQ cadre officers and Dr. A.K. Singh, DOP is acting without application of mind on files/cases put up by these officers of AFHQ.  They are expert in manipulation of government rules.There are several examples of wrong doings, some acts were already raised by DRDO admin officers. Some AFHQ cadre officials are still enjoying job in DDO after retirement in contract basis as an award for their wrong acts in DOP and all this happening in DRDO because of incapable and incompetent DOP.

Please see the following CAT, Guwahati Bench order which shows the failure of grievances cell of DRDO. In every ministry grievances cell is the mirror of management of respective department and the increasing number of cases show the real truth of DRDO management.

Where is your ASCI HR audit can anyone tell who is sitting on the ASCI HR audit report.

Dr A K Singh’s spending his main time to manage his TD’s and finding the equation of next promotion for him. DRDO problems – who cares. Dr A K Singh is not man of solutions   he is problem creator see his letters which are submitted to CAT and High court of Allahabad by another great Director of DMSRDE, Dr A K Saxena.

Dr Vijay Veer is also TD expert and whole DRL witnessing his tremendous ability of flying in TD, he is the Flying Veer of DRL, while making him Director, DRL, Tezpur, DRDO Hqrs forgot to consider that his wife is working in Forest department, Dehradun and he is having three immovable properties in Dehradun. How he will manage his family & property from Tezpur which is about  1947 km apart from Dehradun. It appears like other Directors, DRDO HQ assured him to sanction his unjustified TD to visit Delhi or nearby ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, on regular basis. Rest …………………..

In DRDO TD’s not a big problem scientists and records of TD’s of Senior officers including SA,DG’s& CC’s establish that to take lunch with his  family they move in morning to Hyderabad/Bangalore and returned back after good family lunch on the name of TD’s to any of the DRDO establishments at Hyderabad/Bangalore without bothering the  tax payers money.

One important example of DRDO TD is worth mention when Dr R Sreehari Rao, Ex -OS & CC R&D (ECS & LIC) and his kin’s marriage function was in Hyderabad 110 of DRDO officials was present in his kin’s wedding function and all were in TD and marriage CD recording is available but who cares it is DRDO of 1972 Arjun MBT.

If Ministry of defence audit the only TD expenses of DRDO top brasses for last 10 years they will certainly put those figure in golden words in Limca and Guinness world record because no department of government of India can beat them in this race. The utilization of flying miles are man discussion among top scientists and as per sources one present director used these flying miles in LTC and claimed the LTC too in his previous establishment matter was buried.

It appears that DOP likes to read Ruskin Bond in his US tours rather Swamy’s Handbook regarding DOPT, GOI guidelines for two year tenure postings in North-East Region, which results another CAT order for consideration of transfer of individual official of DRL Tezpur.  Dr A K Singh , DOP is fully accountable for these CAT Orders of Guwahati Bench of CAT and the expenditure incurred by Government/DRDO and the individual should be cost on Dr. A K Singh based on Hon’ble Modi Ji accountability & transparency doctrine for Good Governance.

Please see the following CAT order which shows the failure of grievances cell of DRDO and Dr. A K Singh, DOP himself is Chairman of DRDO Grievance Cell I DRDO HQ. In every ministry grievances cell is the mirror of management of respective department and the increasing number of cases show the real truth of DRDO management

See the another CAT order for consideration of transfer of individual If Dr A K Singh will continue as DOP the those days are very near, DRDO officials will approach supreme court for sundry administrative problems – Jai Ho, Jai DRDO

For Dr A K Singh and Dr Vijay Veer please see following for your ready reference

Corruption – Giving or obtaining advantage through means which are illegitimate, immoral, and/or inconsistent with one’s duty or the rights of others. Corruption often results from patronage.

Corruption undermines social and economic stability. It threatens security and damages trust and public confidence in systems which affect people’s daily lives, its hidden costs immense.

Corruptness: lack of integrity or honesty,   use of a position of trust for dishonest gain. Misuse of government power

DRDO corruption: comes under the criminality and the abuse of power by DRDO  officials, either internally or externally The abuse of public power, office, or resources by government officials or employees for personal gain.

CAT another decision GuwahatiCAT another decision Guwahati page2 CAT another decision Guwahati page3 CAT another decision Guwahati page4 CAT another decision Guwahati page5

 

 

Drdo

Dr. K Tamilmani,DS,DG(Aero) along with six senior officials of GTRE, CEMILAC and DG Office Visiting DMSRDE, Kanpur

Leave a comment

Dr Tamilmani’s hidden agenda of visiting Kanpur is to show the Dr. D C Pande’s fact finding report to Dr  A K Saxena and his team. In fact the report is too voluminous because the DMSRDE dozen corruption case leads lot other files too and so Dr. Tamilmani asked six senior officials to carry those procurement files which are too heavy due to corruption because everyone knows the wrongdoings carries lot of weight.

Agenda for public – to review project “Development of high oxidative & thermal stability oils (Hots Oil)”

Dinner with all scientists G and project team (one or two special invitee DMSRDEians better know who are they)

Dinner’s hidden agenda is as Dr. Tamilmani now very well understand the capability and manipulation expertise of Dr A K Saxena in procurement and after expose, damage control ability(Media connection), so after the Dinner Dr A K Saxena will give presentation to six senior officials, so they can replicate the manipulation techniques like before procurements how interact with suppliers /vendors how architect the tender and specification to fool the government laid down rules etc. – 20:00 to 22:00 (time will extend depends upon liquor quality.)

* responsibility – two are very interesting Chuna or Hello mike testing 1,2,3-1,2,3

1. Accommodation/Cleanliness & Lightning/ Tea/Dinner – Sh Shailendra Yadav               2. Audio arrangement – Dr. T C Shami

 

Drdo

Narendra Modi extremely unhappy with DRDO’s failure to meet deadlines in delivering products

Leave a comment

BHAVNA VIJ AURORA,ET Bureau | Aug 23, 2014, 12.19 PM IST – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: When defence minister Arun Jaitley commissions Indian Naval Ship Kamorta on Saturday in Vizag, it will be bereft of the critical mediumrange surface-to-air missile (SAM) and advanced light towed array sonars (ALTAS) — both of which Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has failed to deliver.
This is not the first failure for DRDO, the only body in the country doing research in the field of defence systems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commissioned INS Kolkata on August 16 in Mumbai.

That too was without the crucial long-range SAM systems and ALTAS.drdo award 2014

Extremely unhappy about the state of affairs, Modi has put DRDO on notice. With the government approving 49% FDI in defence, the PM has asked the tardy organisation to shape-up in the face of competition from the private sector. Officials in the security setup of the country told ET that Modi has asked the defence minister to conduct a detailed review of the organisation, and if need be come out with a white paper on it.

Modi personally delivered a stern message to DRDO, asking the officers to give up their “chalta hai” (lackadaisical) attitude, during the annual award ceremony of the organisation on August 20. The PM had started the DRDO clean-up project even before he attended the award function. He ordered scrapping of a committee that was reviewing cases to grant extension of service to scientists, who had superannuated. The committee sent its recommendations to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

As many as 15 top scientists of DRDO, including Director General (DG) Avinash Chander, are on extension. Chander, in fact, is now on contract after two extensions. Incidentally, he holds three posts — Secretary (Defence) R&D, DG (DRDO) and Scientific Advisor to the defence minister. It was the previous ACC, under the UPA government, comprising Manmohan Singh, AK Antony and Sushil Kumar Shinde that had granted him extensions and finally appointed him on contract in November 2013. About six to eight people were believed to be getting extensions each year in DRDO.

“The PM was not happy about it. As per a department of personnel and training (DoPT) ruling, only the best scientists of international stature should be considered for extensions. He asked for all the details. He was told about the high attrition rate among the younger scientists,” disclosed a senior defence ministry official.

The review committee, scrapped by the government, comprised secretaries of Department of Atomic Energy, DRDO and ISRO as members. Modi is believed to have said that the secretaries of the same departments could not review extensions of their own personnel. He has now constituted the committee to include the Cabinet Secretary and secretaries of unrelated departments of science and technology and earth sciences.

“It is to weed out the dead wood that Modi made the announcement about employing only young scientists, not over the age of 35, in five of the 52 DRDO labs. It is a beginning and will send the message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver,” explained the defence ministry official.

DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta could not be contacted for a comment.

Drdo

Ten key DRDO projects delayed: Arun Jaitley

Leave a comment

PTI | Jul 18, 2014, 02.44 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Ten major projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), including the LCA Tejas aircraft and several key missile programmes, have been delayed due to various reasons, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

Giving details of DRDO’s delayed projects, defence minister Arun Jaitley said during Question Hour that “corrective/ remedial” measures are being taken to address the issue of delays.

Besides Light Combat Aircraft, other delayed projects include Naval Light Combat Aircraft, Aero Engine Kaveri, Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft and Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile.

The Air-to-Air Missile Astra, Advanced Light Weight Torpedo, Dual Colour Missile Approach Warning System for Fighter Aircraft, among others, have also been delayed, the minister said.

On remedial measures to complete the projects, Jaitley said that consortium approach is being used for design, development and fabrication of critical components.

According to him, synergy and better co-ordination were being promoted among user services, DRDO and production agencies through cluster meetings.

Jaitley also said the general impression that DRDO is lagging behind and that government is not providing enough support “may not be very accurate”.

“It is not fair to say that activities of DRDO have been curtailed by paucity of funds,” he said.

On proposal to allow 49 per cent foreign direct investment in the defence sector, Jaitley said the objective is to bring in best technologies into the country.

The government has decided that now it would be “Indian majority controlled” and it will bring the best technologies in the defence sector, the minister said.

The country has to come out of the situation where India is the largest buyer of defence equipment and ensure that “we have domestic capacity within India”, he noted.

“Government is making all efforts to grant Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) to DRDO scientists on par with scientists of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),” Jaitley added.