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Drdo

Why Indian Railways Need To Buy 3,350 Truckloads Of Cow Dung For Rs 42 Cr

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Srinand Jha, January 6, 2018- IndiaSpend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Indian Railways need to buy 3,350 truckloads of cow dung at Rs 42 crore in 2018 to “recharge”–add bacteria to activate degradation–leaky, malfunctioning ‘bio-toilets’ that it has fitted on 44.8% of trains and hopes to expand to all trains by 2018, according to IndiaSpend projections of data released by the national auditor to Parliament.

Bio-toilets are small-scale sewage-treatment systems beneath the toilet seat: Bacteria in a compost chamber digest human excreta, leaving behind water and methane. That’s how they were supposed to work.

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on these bio-toilets echoes the findings of our November 2017 investigation into their widespread malfunctioning: The CAG found 199,689 defects in 25,000 toilets.

Responding to the CAG findings, the railway ministry said its criticism was “not correct” and that “some problems of choking were occurring on account of misuse of toilets by passengers”. An official note from December 20, 2017, said: “These issues are being dealt with promptly.”

“By November 2011, the performance issues of each design of bio-toilets were clearly showing up,” the note said. “Therefore, the ministry did not wait until the end of the trial period to make the decision (to order the procurement of bio-toilets from private manufacturers).”

Our November 2017 story quoted studies from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Kanpur that said the bio-toilets were no better than “septic tanks” and the water they let out no better than “raw sewage”.

Each bio-toilet requires 60 litres–or three large bucketfuls–of inoculum, a mix of cow dung and water, according to the December 19, 2017, CAG report. This inoculum begins the process of breaking down 3,980 tons of human excreta that is released untreated by trains on rail tracks nationwide every day.

The bio-toilets originally used a bacterium found in Antarctica by a defence scientist, who cultured it in 2005 and 10 years later, got a patent on its use. Over seven years to 2017, 97,761 such toilets were fitted in new coaches or retrofitted in existing Indian trains.

The railways went ahead with the toilet installation even though the flaw in the basic model designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had been pointed out by an expert panel in 2007. In an interview (to be published tomorrow), Vinod Tare, an IIT professor of environmental engineering, who headed this panel, told us that these bio-toilets had been found ineffective at two venues: Kumbh Mela, the massive gathering of Hindu pilgrims held every 12 years at a river bank, and the army base-camp at Siachen glacier.

The panel’s two-year study was completed in November 2017 by IIT Madras, as IndiaSpend reported on November 23, 2017.

The railways sent a rejoinder to our story–you can read it here–and soon after announced they were exploring airplane-style vacuum toilets.

The railways bought 3,600 litres of inoculum for Rs 68,400 in May 2016, said the CAG report. Based on this cost, we estimate that to recharge the 97,761 bio-toilets currently in use, the railways will need 23.46 million litres–or 3,350 truckloads–of cow dung.

With the railways failing to produce enough bacteria, the cow dung will be sourced from private sector at Rs 19 per litre. The railways have a workshop–with an installed capacity to generate 30,000 litres of bacteria each month–in Nagpur, but no action has been taken on a 2011 proposal to set up two more facilities, at Kapurthala and Perambur.

No clarity on funds or manpower for bio-toilet project

There is no clarity on two other critical issues relating to bio-toilets on trains: The infrastructure costs involved in installation, including procurement and installation of evacuation machines and hydraulic lifts, and anticipated expenses on training and deployment of manpower.

Further, if all 54,506 rail coaches are to be fitted with vacuum toilets atop the bio-toilets being installed–as is being planned–there will be an additional cost of Rs 10,900 crore. The current market price of a vacuum toilet unit is approximately Rs 200,000.

The additional expense might have been worth it if the bio-toilet scheme, 24 years in the making, had been efficient. But the CAG has amplified concerns about its performance and has endorsed the findings of the IndiaSpend investigation.

The flaws in bio-toilets, according to the CAG

In an evaluation of 25,000 toilets for the period under review (2016-17), the CAG detected 199,689 defects and deficiencies. Here are some major issues, according to the report:

Highest number of problems/ defects (41,111) found at the Bengaluru coaching depot, followed by Gorakhpur (24,495) and Wadi Bunder (22,521);
Complaints per bio-toilet were highest at the Bengaluru coaching deport (98), followed by Wadi Bunder (32), Rameshwaram (28) and Gwalior (17);
Of the 102,792 instances of choking, 10,098 (10%) cases reported in March 2017;
Of the 102,792 cases of choking in 25,080 bio-toilets, the highest (34%) were reported from Bengaluru. This implied that one bio-toilet got choked 83 times a year;
Choking incidents have risen from 2015-16: One bio-toilet got choked four times a year during 2016-17.
Quantity and quality of material used criticised by CAG

In an email dated May 21, 2016, to then defence minister Manohar Parrikar, Y Ashok Babu, a scientist at the DRDO, had alleged that a “nexus of bureaucrats and industrialists” was pushing for what was “nothing but gobar gas plants involving no technology”.

The CAG report too slammed the railways for the “quality and quantity” of material being procured.

As the report observed, there were complaints pending against seven of the nine firms against with which the Railway Board placed orders. These are: Ms JSL Life Style Limited, Ms Omax Auto Limited, Ms Mohan Rail Components Limited, Ms Rail Fab, Ms Amit Engineers, Ms Hindustan Fiber Glass Works and Ms Rail Tech.

In July 2017, the railways ministry barred three companies (Ms Rail Tech, Ms Rail Fab and Ms Hindustan Fiber) from being considered for railway contracts for an unspecified period. The ministry also proposed that the contract of another company, Ms Mohan Rail, be cancelled.

Negligence in testing of effluents and bacteria culture

The CAG report found that 12 coaching depots of nine railway zones had not finalised the annual maintenance and operating contracts (AMOCs) for bio-toilets.

“Evaluation of performance is a continuous process resulting in addition or deletion from the approved list,” the railways ministry said in a press note in response to the CAG report. It added that “all major coaching depots now had the AMOC contract, while this was progressively being extended to other depots”.

As the CAG found, Indian Railways have not adhered to the guidelines on testing the effluents released by bio-toilets. The tests had not been conducted at all at the Dhanbad coaching depot and records of the samples sent for testing and the results of these tests were not maintained at five coaching depots.

At the Lower Parel workshop in Mumbai, 18 drums of bacteria procured at a cost of Rs 68,400 in May 2016 had been lying unused even after their shelf life had expired.

After 2011, the railways placed bulk orders for the supply, installation and commissioning of approximately 80,000 bio-toilets. The CAG criticised the railways for failing to come up with a “standardized design” for these units. It also pointed to the “large scale proliferation” of 10,000 tanks in November 2011 “before test results of trials on seven different variants had been analyzed”.

Earlier news reports had suggested that the land-based variants of these toilets were unsuccessful.

This is the first of a two-part series. You can read our November 2017 report on railway bio-toilets here.

Next: ‘Railways Went Ahead With A Failed Bio-Toilet Model’

(Jha is a New Delhi-based freelance journalist.)

Tweets

 29 minutes ago

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‘Railways Went Ahead With A Failed Bio-Toilet Model’ IndiaSpend

✔@IndiaSpend

Tech solutions to train-toilet problem exist, but ‘the intention to find a lasting solution is not there’. Bureaucrats only interested in fulfilling targets, ensuring tenures are trouble-free: IIT engineer & professor Vinod Tare tells us. http://bit.ly/2CIZKAY

Amlan عملان अम्लान Dutta@orphean_warbler

Some yrs back Jairam Ramesh took initiative & DRDO installed some bio toilets in the villages near Wheeler Island. No one used them.
Biotoilets don’t work in Indian context

Mrinal Pande@MrinalPande1

द.ध्रुव से आयातित खास बैक्टीरिया से लैस करवाए गये हमारी रेलों के बायो- टायलेट करोड़ों खर्च करके भी नारकीय क्यों बने हुए हैं? जानकारी ।

Assa Doron@AssaDoron

So much for biotoilets http://www.indiaspend.com/cover-story/why-indian-railways-need-to-buy-3350-truckloads-of-cow-dung-for-rs-42-cr-78722 …

rsivaram@rsivaram

Wow, that’s some sh*t!

 12 minutes ago

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On-board treatment of human excreta in trains is difficult; evacuation facilities & treatment plants–for compost or biogas–can be set up in the rail yards: IIT’s Vinod Tare, head of 2007 team that studied bio-toilet project in Indian trains.

THE LEGAL INDIA@thelegalindia

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J’Railways  Went Ahead With A Failed Bio-Toilet Model’ – IndiaSpend http://ift.tt/2CN31jx

Dinesh Agrawal, Ex-IRS@dka1966
Replying to @IndiaSpend @MisaBharti

Who took decision to install bio-toilets in Railway, it appears that decision was taken decades back but installed during UPA regime but NDA is blamed

Harshit Gupta@hg6

Failed bio-toilet model?

IndiaSpend

✔@IndiaSpend

Bio-toilet model used in Indian trains failed to work at 2013 Kumbh Mela and Siachen but railways still pushing for use in all trains. Our interview with engineer & prof Vinod Tare, head of 2007 IIT study on train bio-toilets. http://bit.ly/2CIZKAY

Teesta Setalvad@TeestaSetalvad

Huge waste of your and mine..The Indian taxpayers money

Rakesh Kumar@rakeshkonfucius

Cc @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc

SK Iyer@iyer_sk

A 2007 study, jointly conducted by the Lucknow-based Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and IIT Kanpur, also concluded that excreta wasn’t being treated in the bio-digesters. The railways has not made this report public. http://www.indiaspend.com/cover-story/railways-went-ahead-with-a-failed-bio-toilet-model-17151 …

Quicksilver@shigrahrajat
Replying to @IndiaSpend

they planted the septic tank in the coaches.

#कमभक्त@chat2malay

Dr @PiyushGoyal ji ये हो क्या रहा है

Drdo

CORRUPTION IN ARUNODAYA PROGRAMME OF DRDO AT DRL, TEZPUR – CIVIL HIRED VEHICLE

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To,                                                                        11 June 2015                                                             Shri Manohar Parrikar,                                                                                                                       Defence Minister,                                                                                                                                 Room No -104 South Block,                                                                                                                  Ministry of Defence,                                                                                                                            New Delhi-110011

SUBJECT: CORRUPTION IN ARUNODAYA PROGRAMME OF DRDO IN  CASE OF CIVIL HIRED VEHICLE  AT DRL BY DR. VIJAY VEER, DIRECTOR , DEFENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (DRL), TEZPUR, DRDO, MIN. OF DEFENCE

Sir,

  1. Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur (Assam) is an establishment under Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence.
  2. Vijay Veer, Scientist ‘G’ is Director, DRL, Tezpur with effect from 01 March 2012 and Mr. Baikuntha Jyoti Gogoi (B.J. Gogoi), Scientist ‘D’ is Nodal Officer of Programme Arunodaya at DRL, Tezpur.
  3. Manas Kumar Mandal, Distinguished Scientist is Director General of the Life Sciences Cluster with effect from 02 September 2013. Dr. Mandal was a Professor of Psychology at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Kharagpur, prior to joining DRDO and his recruitment in DRDO is mystery well known to CVO, MOD and DRDO.
  4. The Arunodaya Programme was sanctioned by GOI letter No. DGLS/DRL/P(TD)/14-15/99/1957/D(R&D) dated 25 August 2014 and DPC letter No. DRDO/DPC/DIR/32500/LS/2014 dated 27 August 2014 signed by Ms. Nabnita R Krishnan, Director, Directorate of Planning & Coordination (DPC), DRDO HQ. Total cost of the Programme is about Rs. 38 crore with PDC of 05 Years (Aug 2014 to Aug 2019).
  5. Under the guidance and approval of Dr. Manas Kumar Mandal Life Sciences cluster planned a project known as ARUNODAYA PROGRAMME “Soldier Preparedness in High Mountain of NE Region: Arunodaya Programme” with Project No. TD/14-15/DRL-99 and Cost about Rs. 18 crore was sanctioned to DRL, Tezpur.
  6. DRL, Tezpur is nodal laboratory of Arunodaya Programme. Mr. H.K. Gogoi, Scientist ‘F’ is Project Coordinator and Mr. Baikuntha Jyoti Gogoi, Scientist ‘D’ is Nodal Officer of Arunodaya Programme.
  7. The business of eating and looting public money has started in this Arunodaya Programme by Mr. B.J. Gogoi and Dr. Vijay Veer under patronage of Dr. Manas Kumar Mandal, DG, Life Sciences. One such example of corruption is submitted as case study.

CASE STUDY

  1. Draft (not Minute Sheet/ Statement of Case) dated 11 December 2014 under Programme Arunodaya from Programme Office, Arunodaya, DRL, Tezpur initiated by Mr. B.J. Gogoi, Scientist ‘D’, Nodal Officer for “Provision of Civil Hired Transport (Light Vehicle- 4×4 Mahindra Scorpio Diesel or Equivalent) on monthly rental basis for Programme Office Arunodaya at DRL, Tezpur for the year 2015”. The same was approved by Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL on 12 December 2014. Copy enclosed
  2. The Project No. S&T-09/DIH-116 entitled “Development of Specific Technologies to meet the fresh food requirement of Armed Forces under different Operational Environments” was sanctioned by DRDO HQ vide letter No. DLS/79/99705/DIH-116/745/D(R&D) dated 31 March 2009 in which DRL, fund of Rs. 1484 Lakh was sanctioned to DRL, Tezpur in the said project and there was provision of procurement of vehicle with fund of Rs. 9.0 Lakh. Copy of the relevant sanction for procurement of vehicle under project fund
  3. Tata Safari was purchased under the project with approximate cost of Rs. 8.5 lakh in year of 2011. As a matter of fact, DRL, Tezpur is already having a project vehicle Tata Safari with Registration No. 11B108688Y that was purchased under the Project No. S&T-09/DIH-116 sanctioned in April 2009. Since the project is completed hence this project vehicle should be used in any other project and there was no need of hired transport as DRL, Tezpur was already having project vehicle. Photo of the said Project Vehicle Tata Safari is enclosed.
  4. B.J. Gogoi, Scientist ‘D’ and Dr. Vijay Veer, Director make a master plan for looting public money by hiring 4×4 Mahindra Scorpio vehicle at about 8 lakhs/year. If their intensions were positive they would have thought of purchasing such vehicle rather than hiring the same at 8 lakhs/year, despite the Tata Safari (Project Vehicle) was already available with DRL.
  5. In the demand dated 12.12.2014, under point (2) of Note at page no. 2, it is stated that “The firms are registered/will be got registered before tender enquiry”. According the demand dated 12.12.2014 initiated by Mr. M.G. Vairale, Scientist ‘C’ & MTO and countersigned by Mr. B.J. Gogoi, Scientist ‘D’. This demand was endorsed by Store Officer and OI/C Budget & Project Cell.
  6. As per the demand, the tender enquiry was floated to following seven firms. In demand the column of registration No. is blank for all vendors, which itself proves that none of the vendors were registered at DRL, Tezpur as per basic requirement of Purchase Manual 2006.drl hired vehicle case table
  7. In scope of work under point (1) Service, it is stated “Provision of Vehicles registered as Commercial Vehicles with licensed drivers” but the hired vehicle provided by the contractor is having white number plate with Registration No. AS 25 E 1645, Blue Color Mahindra XUV. In case this vehicle have been registered as commercial vehicle at RTO then it should have been having yellow number plate and should have been registered as Commercial Vehicle(Taxi). This establish the Vehicle No. AS 25 E 1645 is personal vehicle and not the commercial vehicle. The indenter, nodal officer as well as Director are fully aware of this fact and it grossly violated the scope of work and terms & condition of the contract agreement. Photo of hired vehicle at DRL – Mahindra XUV 500 REG No. AS 25 E 1645 enclosed.
  8. The contract is for 12×7 = 84 Hours /Week but in DRDO office hours are 09:00 to 17:30 and 05 days week, then how hired vehicle was utilized 12 hours per day and seven days in week. This proves the contract is bogus and main objective is misappropriation of public fund by Mr. B.J. Gogoi and Dr. Vijay Veer on the name of hired vehicle.
  9. Two Project Vehicles may be purchased hardly within one month as there was provision of Rs. One crore in sanction of the project for hired vehicle/transport but why till date vehicles were not purchased? The answer is very simple – corruption and eating money by Nodal Officer and Director.
  10. Through Investigation and Verification of Registration of vehicle as Commercial Vehicle, Entries in the Log Book of the said vehicle, Service Tax payment by vendor to Custom & Excise Department, Tour Program/Movement Order/ Tour Claims of official of DRL and bill submitted by vendor to DRL will itself show the whole conspiracy on the name of Hired Vehicle at DRL, Tezpur in Arunodaya Programme.
  11. There are several such cases are available in DRL, Tezpur regarding fake claim and misappropriation of public fund in hired vehicles.

Therefore in light of above mentioned facts and evidences following actions are requested.

  • Cancel the contract immediately to save public money as Project Vehicle Tata Safari is available at DRL, Tezpur.
  • To procure two new project vehicles at earliest
  • Through investigation of all procurement/contracts cases etc in Arunodaya Project made by Mr. B.J. Gogoi till now.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,                                                                                                                               21-Sunderwala, Raipur                                                                                                                       Dehradun-248008                                                                                                                               Email prabhudoo@gmail.com website- www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed:- documentary evidences mentioned above

Copy to: Maj Gen. Ajay Gupta, Director, Dte of Vigilance & Security, DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi -110105

With reference to your Directorate letter no DVS/02/2052/P/26 dated 25 May 2015 (copy enclosed) as this project vehicle is using as staff car putting red beacon with front mounted Director, DRL name plate proves the use

Statement of Case dated 11 December 2014 under Programme Arunodaya from Programme Office, Arunodaya, DRL, Tezpur initiated by Mr. B.J. Gogoi, Scientist ‘D’, Nodal Officer
Project Sanction Letter
Project Sanction Letter
Project Sanction Letter Page 3
Project Sanction Letter Page 3
drl hired vehicle case4
Hired Vehicle with private number
Project using vehicle using as staff car by Director, DRL
Project using vehicle using as staff car by Director, DRL
dvs letter
Dte of Vigilance & Security, DRDO letter no DVS/02/2052/P/26 dated 25 May 2015

 

Drdo

Parliament Question No 789 Regarding DRDO Projects

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Dear friends please go through the parliament question 789 asked by Hon  Shri  Nishikant Dubey and others regarding DRDO projects. Our Hon Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar answered the question as a same way like Ex defence Minister Sh A K Anthony because both only read the paper supplied by Dr. J.P. Singh, Scientist ‘G’ Director of Parliamentary Affairs. As a matter of fact Dr. J.P. Sigh is highly qualified scientist of DRDO with M.Sc. (Physics), MLISC and Ph.D. but since several years he is posted at DRDO HQ and looking after Parliamentary Affairs in DRDO. Dr. J.P. Singh was promoted as Scientist ‘G’ wef 01 July 2012 and having seniority no. 346 among all Scientist ‘G’ of DRDO as seniority roll as on November 2013,  still by superseding all his seniors he was appointed as Director, Dte of Parliamentary Affairs , DRDO HQ with blessings of his God Father.

You all be happy to see the answer same old story repeating since last 15 years friends we have great hope from Shri Manohar Parrikar because he is IIT’ans but without investigating the answer supplied by Dr. J.P. Sigh he state read same way like Sh A K Anthony.

It is requested that to our Defence Minister please see the answers earlier given by Sh A K Anthony on same matter. Also request don’t believe the reply given by Dr. J.P. Sigh some time he also not know the real facts, he only does galvanizing the inputs. We want to see the difference between technical qualified politician with other one. It will the great loss for our country if DRDO incompetent scientists are able to bluff the technical sound person like Parrikar ji.

ANSWERED ON     27.02.2015

DRDO PROJECTS

789 .   Dubey Shri Nishikant

Innocent Shri Senguttuvan, Shri BalasubramaniamKumar, Shri Kunwar Sarvesh

Shri Sultan Ahmed Ramachandran Shri Krishnan Narayanasamy

Will the Minister of  DEFENCE    be pleased to state:-

(a) whether several projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are lagging behind schedule and if so, the details thereof and the reasons for delay in completion of these projects, project-wise;

(b) the details of funds required, budget allocated, released and utilized by the DRDO for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, project-wise;

(c) the steps taken / being taken by the Government for completion of such projects;

(d) whether DRDO proposes to open Centre of Excellence in the country and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to change the policy relating to the appointment of scientists in DRDO to meet the shortage if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

(a) & (b): Project-wise details regarding original and revised date of completion, sanctioned cost, expenditure made during last three years and current year along with reasons for delay in completion of major ongoing projects of DRDO is attached at Annexure `A`.

(c): The following corrective/remedial measures have been taken/being taken to complete ongoing projects in-time.

# Consortium approach is being used for design, development and fabrication of critical components

# Three-tier project monitoring approach has been instituted in the major projects.

# Project Monitoring Review Committee (PMRC) and Project Appraisal and Review Committee (PARC) meetings are held regularly to monitor the progress of ongoing projects.

# Concurrent engineering approach has been adopted in technology intensive projects to minimize time-lag between development and productionisation of the systems.

# Information Technology and modern management techniques are being applied.

# Encouraging joint funding by users to ensure their commitment towards earliest completion.

# Promoting synergy and better co-ordination among User Services, DRDO and production agencies through cluster meetings.

(d) Yes, Madam. DRDO has already established seven Centers of Excellence in various disciplines and taken initiative to establish the following four more Centers in the areas of interest to defence.

# Bi-nodal Center of Propulsion Technologies (CoPT) at IIT, Bombay.

# Jagdish Chandra Bose Center for Advanced Technology (JCBCAT) at  Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

# Joint Advanced Technology Center  (JATC) at IIT, Delhi.

# Center for Advanced Materials &  Electromagnetics (CAMEL) at IIT,  Jodhpur.

(e) No, Madam. The present policy relating to appointment of scientists in DRDO is functioning effectively. However, there is shortage of scientists in DRDO as there has been no increase of scientific manpower since 2001 while a number of projects have grown multifold in terms of size and technological complexity over the past fifteen years. DRDO has initiated a Cabinet Note for augmentation of manpower by 1316 posts (1260 scientists and 56 works cadre Officers). These are proposed to be filled in phased manner in three recruitment years.

Annexureannexure parliament question

 

 

 

 

Drdo

Avinash Chander to continue as DRDO chief till May 2016

7 Comments

PTI | November 28, 2014, 19.11 pm IST
Avinash Chander 28 novNew Delhi: India’s premier defence and research organisation DRDO’s chief Dr Avinash Chander was to retire on November 30 but will continue to occupy the position on a contractual basis till May 2016.

“The President is pleased to retire Dr Avinash Chander, Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DOB: 06.11.1950), in the Ministry of Defence from Government Service with effect from 30.11.2014 (AN) on attaining the age of superannuation,” an official statement said on Friday.

It said “the appointment of Chander beyond his date of retirement, November 30, for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to Secretary (DRD) before the date of retirement.”

His contractual term will end on May 31, 2016. Asked if this was the first time a DRDO chief will go on contract, sources said there had been instances when chiefs have been given “extraordinary” extensions.

The DRDO chief also holds the post of Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and the Secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development.

Chander joined DRDO in 1972 after completing graduation in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

He obtained MS in Spatial Information Technology from Jawharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. Chander is the chief architect of Agni series of ballistic missile systems.

Development of Agni range of missiles under a highly-restrictive international control regimes was possible only out of his technology forecast, perspective planning and relentless efforts, DRDO officials said.

Drdo

Request for cancellation Post Retirement Contractual Appointment of Sh Avinash Chander as DG, DRDO to save the premier organization from the clutches of corrupt and incompetents officials

3 Comments
To                                                                                  26th November 2014
Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister,
PMO, South Block,
New Delhi-110011

SUBJECT:   Request for cancellation Post Retirement Contractual Appointment of Sh Avinash Chander as DG, DRDO to save the premier organization from the clutches of corrupt and incompetents officials.  

Sir,

Shri Avinash Chander, DG, DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD is retiring on 28 November 2014 at age of 64 after getting two unconstitutional & unrequired extensions of two-two years.

As a matter of fact and requirement under FR & SR, a retired Government servant cannot be appointed as Head of the Organisation with all administrative and financial powers after his retirement on contract. There is provision of appointing retired Government servant on need basis following with due prescribed procedure under rules keeping in view of transparency and open opportunity for all eligible persons.

DRDO is very prestigious organisation  for Defence related indigenous R&D with budget of Rs. 15283 crore for FY 2014-2015 but what is fate of 90% + projects of DRDO, Government, media and public knows very well.

DRDO is better known as “Delay Research & Derailed Organisation” and you are committed to revamp DRDO. The whole nation especially the scientific community appreciated your steps and measures taken for DRDO in present and planned for future.

Appointment of Hon’ble Manohar Parrikar, an eminent engineer from IIT as Defence Minister by you was very much appreciated by nation, media and scientific community.

That will definitely help overhauling and revamping of DRDO by eradication of corruption from DRDO, maintain accountability and transparency in DRDO.

The integrity and moral fibre are two main attributes of Government servant but unfortunately Shri Avinash Chander could not maintain these two in his tenure from 31st May 2013 to 28 Nov 2014 as DG, DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD which is very much evident from the various complaints pending against him before PMO and Cabinet Secretariat.

In his tenure, number of court cases increases in many fold,  Sh Chander set example to promoting and recruiting incompetents (Ms Tesy Thomas promotion to Sc H and her husband CMDR S K Patel‘s appointment as Sc G and after few days he was made Director, QRS). This act follows discontentment among the senior scientists of DRDO.

The number of SC/ST and minorities complaints increased.

Not able to manage media instead of two crores budget for Public Interface.

There was not a single mentionable product/technology delivered instead Sh Chander tried to show the old products again like EDK the MoU was already signed by DRDO in 2012, Chander spends crores of rupees for that in US visit for unacceptable technology, no evidence are of reorganizations of said product internationally because there are  numerous advance technologies are available.

Secondly, the Bio digester, DRDO three times earlier dedicated this to nation and interestingly it is not as said by DRDO spin off technology it is mere only gobar gas plant in the name of innovation of DRDO the said microbes are already found in cow dunk.  One senior scientist from DRDO itself already exposes this propaganda of DRDO to CVC

The contractual appointment after retirement has also been challenged by some citizens before Government and media also highlighted the pro & cons of this matter.

Therefore, it is requested to Hon’ble Sir to cancel the post retirement contractual appointment of Shri Avinash Chander, DG, DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD before 30th November, the date of his retirement and not continue him further in DRDO in interest of nation and scientists of DRDO.

Regards
Prabhu Dandriyal
www.corruptionindrdo.com
 
Copy to:
Hon’ble Sh ManoharParrikar
Defence Minister
Room No -104, Min. of Defence
South Block
New Deli-110011
Drdo

High Fives! Can DRDO fulfil Modi’s wish of youngsters heading 5 laboratories?

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Written by: Dr Anantha Krishnan M Updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2014, – One India News

Bengaluru, Nov 5: Hit by the short range ‘wish missile’ fired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two months back, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) might be waking up to the reality that the change is imminent, and it’s now or never.

While addressing a DRDO award function in August this year, PM Modi had asked the top brass to set aside five laboratories for scientists below 35 years – a message that went viral on social media sites.

In an interview to OneIndia, Dr K Tamilmani, Director-General (Aero), DRDO, said that the PM’s wish to hand over the mandate of running some labs to youngsters has become a mandate now.

“The PM’s call to promote young talent has been well received by the youngsters within DRDO. We have been doing this exercise in the past as well and it will get a new focus now. It has to be a well-thought out plan keeping in mind factors such as project execution, financial management, administrative abilities and most-importantly leadership qualities,” Dr Tamilmani said.

IIT graduate heads Rs 22-crore futuristic project

He said emerging projects and technologies are being given to scientists at ‘D’ and ‘E’ levels. “We have been promoting youngsters in DRDO. To give an example, a fast-track technology development project has been already handed over to a young IIT graduate at the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment in Agra. He is leading a 22-crore project for futuristic technologies for the development of an airship,” Dr Tamilmani said.

Sighting another example, he said the DRDO is in the process of handing over the ‘Rotary UAV’ project to a young team at the Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.

DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta told OneIndia that youngsters were never ignored when it came to crucial projects. “Many youngsters have been project directors of some of our key projects. In Hyderabad itself we have two relatively young scientists in Dr Satheesh Reddy and Dr Tessy Thomas heading two critical labs – the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and the Advanced System Laboratory (ASL) respectively. With the PM’s new directive, the idea of promoting youngsters will now get a new impetus,” Ravi Gupta said.

Modi’s idea is great, execution tough

According to Pushpindar Singh, aviation historian, author and publisher, the DRDO must undergo radical changes to become a world beater in defence R&D.

“You must have a virtual revolution within the DRDO. To me, the system won’t allow youngsters to come up. Modi has some brilliant ideas. But to execute the ideas, he will have to penetrate through the babudom. If the PM wants to see young hands spearheading projects in DRDO, then he should privatise DRDO. The results will be magical. Else we will see the same story doing the rounds,” said Pushpindar, one of the prominent voices of Indian defence.

Creation of new labs the only solution

A top DRDO director who wanted not to be named said that the PM’s idea of handing over the reins of some labs to youngsters below the age group of 35 might not work.

“Honestly, the idea might sound great, but there will be a lot of practical difficulties. It’s not an easy task to give the lab charge to a Scientist D or E and then ask someone senior at Scientist H to report to a lower rank. It will create unrest among the system. Even if it has to be done, then it has to be executed without creating any heartburn,” the official said.

He said the only way out to fulfil PM’s mandate is to create 5 small labs with limited mandate to start with. “We need to identify 5 different projects to be handed over to these labs. All the five labs must report to one Director-General to avoid further hiccups. I agree that DRDO has built in too many layers within and despite the implementation of Rama Rao Committee’s recommendations, lots need to improve,” the official added.

Ready to take risk, let young guns take charge

In his speech PM Modi had said that the government was willing to take risks by giving young guns a chance to run R&D programme. His wish-list included.

Identify five laboratories within DRDO for youngsters

Only scientists below 35 years will work here

All key decisions should be taken by the people in these labs

DRDO must develop systems ahead of others

We got the potential, must work ahead of time DRDO must bring comfort in the routine lives of jawans.

DRDO scientists should inspire youth in universities.

As this piece goes live on OneIndia, there are media reports that the PMO has struck down the service extension request for four scientists, working past their retirement age. The decision by the PMO might upset the DRDO top brass, who always had their way when it came to extension of senior scientists.

“Sixty is not the right age for a scientist to retire. In abroad, the scientists work even beyond 70 years. We need to debate this issue and see how best we can retain the talent of our senior scientists,” says a retired DRDO director, who had got two extensions (2 + 2 years) after touching 60 years.

The PM has definitely set the ball rolling by inspiring the youth within DRDO. Whether the DRDO top brass can live up to his expectations is something worthy to watch!

Drdo

Role Model and an Inspiration for Women Scientists – Especially for DRDO

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“We feel Tessy Thomas serves as a role model and an inspiration for women scientists to achieve their dreams and have their feet planted in both worlds successfully,”

In January, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Indian Science Congress that Ms Thomas is an example of a “woman making her mark in a traditionally male bastion and decisively breaking the glass ceiling”.

Ms Thomas – the media also love to call her Agniputri, or one born of fire, after the missiles she has helped develop.

An expert in ‘solid propellants’, which fuels Agni missiles, she is based at the Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. ????????

But the charismatic scientist says she has never faced any anti-female bias at her workplace ??????

The media loves calling her Missile Woman – and with good reason.- By Pallava Bagla, Science Journalist

‘Agni Putri’ Tessy Thomas breaks glass ceiling – Rajat Pandit, TNN

Women scientists enter IIT council – Akshaya Mukul, TNN | Sep 2, 2014

NEW DELHI: The IITs, predominantly a male club that never had a woman director or scientist in its council, is in for a big change.

HRD ministry has nominated two women scientists Tessy Thomas and Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath to the IIT council, the apex body of 16 IITs.

A senior HRD official said, “The idea behind getting women scientists in the IIT council is to show that science is not the sole preserve of men. Women can be at par with men in carrying out research.”

Some of DRDO women scientists truly inspired by Tessy Thomas and all DRDO witnessing the progress of those women scientists who are following  Tessy Thomas’s footsteps.

Few examples are

Ms J Manjula, Outstanding Scientist/Sc ‘H’ has taken over as Director DARE wef 01 July 2014.

Ms. AVACHAT SS, Scientist ‘G’ ARDE, Pune Expertise in Documention 

Dr. Manisha Sathe, Scientist ‘E’, DRDE – YOUNG SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2007

Dr. Vineeta Nigam, Scientist ‘E’ DMSRDE

And lot of other in queue

To                                                                                            9th September 2014
Ms Prisca Mathew, CPIO, Under Secretary,
Room No. 428-C,
TECHNICAL EDUATION BUREAU,
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT,
SHASTRI BHAWAN, RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD,
NEW DELHI – 110 001

 

Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of Ms Tessy Thomas nomination by HRD Minister as director in  IIT council, the apex body of 16 IITs.

  1. File noting for nomination of Ms Tessy Thomas, Scientist-H, Director, ASL, Hyderabad (DRDO) as  Director in IIT council
  2. Whether any request were made from Min. of HRD for nominating/suggesting the name of candidate from DRDO for nominating as Director in IIT council (Y/N)
  3. If yes then provide certified copy of letter sent by Min. of HRD to the DRDO.
  4. Whether DRDO submitted/proposed the name/recommendation  of Ms Tessy Thomas to Min. of HRD (Y/N)
  5. If yes then provide the certified copy of the recommendation letter.
  6. Criteria for nomination for women Director in IIT council by HRD and list of names consider for nomination of women Director.
  7. Credential submitted by Ms Tessy Thomas or by DRDO for nomination of Director in IIT council.
Regards
 
Prabhu  Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun -248008 
0135- 2787750,   9411114879,  
prabhudoon@gmail.com    www.corruptionindrdo.com
 
Registration Number DOHED/R/2014/64247
Drdo

Bangalore: DRDO bleeds as scientists desert organisation in droves

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Monday, 24 February 2014 – 7:32pm IST | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

DNA Correspondent

Young scientists are leaving India’s premier defence research agency in large numbers.

Defence Research Development Organisation (Drdo), responsible for developing indigenous defence systems, has not been able to retain its young scientists over the last seven years or so.

Close to 1,000 scientists have resigned from Drdo since 2007, but it is the exit of young scientists (Scientist ‘B’ and Scientist ‘C’ grades) that is a cause of concern.

The scientists in these grades are critical for research and development of a number of indigenous defence projects in areas such as aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics and missiles.

Between 2007 and 2009, around 285 scientists in ‘B’ grade and 162 in ‘C’ resigned. Over the next four years, between 2010 and 2013, there was a small drop as 162 in grade ‘B’ and 77 in ‘C’ resigned.

The flight of the younger scientists is in complete contrast to the resignation to the senior scientists in ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘F’ ‘G’ ‘Outstanding’ ‘Distinguished’ categories, as between 2007 and 2013 only 86 resigned.

Following the high attrition rate in 2012, mainly due to availability better opportunities and incentives in the private sector, the ministry of defence (MoD) announced a few incentives and corrective measures to retain scientists.

The measures included two additional increments on promotion to each Grade, up to six variable increments on promotion granted on fast track, professional update allowance to all scientists, fast track promotions through assessments, opportunity to acquire higher qualifications at reputed institutes viz. IIT`s / IISc, etc. as Drdo sponsored candidate, young Scientists, Scientist of the Year and other Drdo awards in recognition to their contributions and creation of excellent infrastructure facilities at work places and residential complexes.

The incentives, however, have not been able to stop the exodus. Defence minister AK Antony said in Parliament recently that ‘personal and for pursuing higher studies’ as the reason for the scientists leaving the organisation.

Drdo has a sanctioned strength of 7,500 and is currently short of a few hundred scientists.

Drdo

RTI- DMSRDE- CARS Project

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To                                                                                       19th March 2014
Central Public Information Officer,
DMSRDE,  DRDO,  Min of Defence,
GT Road, Kanpur-208013

Hello
Kindly provide me with the following information under purview of RTI Act 2005. DRDO is having Centre for Acquisition for Research Services (CARS) for partnership with Academic Institution in R&D projects/ programmes/basic research activities. Funding of academic institution for research whose expected outcome was judged to be of use in extent DRDO R& D projects/programmes. Instrumentality was the sponsored research proposal instigated by a DRDO laboratory or vetted by it for direct relevance of research outcome(s).

Director, DMSRDE granted several projects/programmes under CARs of DRDO to various academic institution/University/IITs/private industries etc.

Kindly provide following information

  1. Name & Designation of Sanctioning Authority for CARS Project in DMSRDE, Kanpur.
  2. Copy of delegation of financial powers of Director, DMSRDE for sanctioning CARS project.
  3. Provide details of the CARS projects given by DMSRDE, Kanpur to other research organizations/academic institutions etc for FY  2011-2012 &  2012-2013 in the following format:

SN/ Financial year/CARS Project Title & PDC/Institution getting CARS project/ Sanctioned amount & PDC/ Name & Rank of Investigator 

  1. Number of CARS projects that have been completed up to DMSRDE satisfaction till 28th Feb 2014.
  2. The details of the equipment purchased by the research service provider and the status of their submitting back to DMSRDE, Kanpur.
  3. Details of CARS projects given to Dr. Arvind Dixit, VSSD College, Kanpur with details of sanction amount & PDC and names of project team.
  4. Copy of Contract & Terms & Conditions of CARS projects sanctioned by Director, DMSRDE to Dr. Arvind Dixit, VSSD College, Kanpur.
  5. Details of items (Chemicals, Glassware, Instruments etc) transferred to Dr. Arvind Dixit, VSSD College, Kanpur from Rubber & Adhesive Division by Dr. D.N. Tripathi, Scientist F and Mr. A.S. Parihar, Scientist D under CARS project sanctioned to Dr. Arvind Dixit ,VSSD College, Kanpur with cost, quantity and date of transfer of items.
  6. Total cost of items that were transferred /handed over by Mr. A.S. Parihar, Scientist ‘D’, DMSRDE to Dr. Arvind Dixit, VSSD, College, Kanpur under CARS project sanctioned to VSSD College, Kanpur.
  7. Whether the cost of items handed over by DMSRDE, Kanpur to Dr. Arvind Dixit , VSSD College Kanpur under CARS project was included in sanctioned cost of CARS project. (Yes/No)

The information sought pertains to misuse of official capacity of Dr. Arvind Kumar Saxena, Director, DMSRDE and falls under the ambit of corruption, therefore not exempted u/s (24) of RTI Act 2005.

Regards
Prabhu  Dandriyal
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008
Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,
e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com  website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Registration Number     –  MODEF/R/2014/60556

Drdo

DRDO bleeds as scientists desert organisation in droves

1 Comment

Monday, 24 February 2014 – 7:32pm IST | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Young scientists are leaving India’s premier defence research agency in large numbers.

Defence Research Development Organisation (Drdo), responsible for developing indigenous defence systems, has not been able to retain its young scientists over the last seven years or so.

Close to 1,000 scientists have resigned from Drdo since 2007, but it is the exit of young scientists (Scientist ‘B’ and Scientist ‘C’ grades) that is a cause of concern.

The scientists in these grades are critical for research and development of a number of indigenous defence projects in areas such as aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics and missiles.

Between 2007 and 2009, around 285 scientists in ‘B’ grade and 162 in ‘C’ resigned. Over the next four years, between 2010 and 2013, there was a small drop as 162 in grade ‘B’ and 77 in ‘C’ resigned.

The flight of the younger scientists is in complete contrast to the resignation to the senior scientists in ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘F’ ‘G’ ‘Outstanding’ ‘Distinguished’ categories, as between 2007 and 2013 only 86 resigned.

Following the high attrition rate in 2012, mainly due to availability better opportunities and incentives in the private sector, the ministry of defence (MoD) announced a few incentives and corrective measures to retain scientists.

The measures included two additional increments on promotion to each Grade, up to six variable increments on promotion granted on fast track, professional update allowance to all scientists, fast track promotions through assessments, opportunity to acquire higher qualifications at reputed institutes viz. IIT`s / IISc, etc. as Drdo sponsored candidate, young Scientists, Scientist of the Year and other Drdo awards in recognition to their contributions and creation of excellent infrastructure facilities at work places and residential complexes.

The incentives, however, have not been able to stop the exodus. Defence minister AK Antony said in Parliament recently that ‘personal and for pursuing higher studies’ as the reason for the scientists leaving the organisation.

Drdo has a sanctioned strength of 7,500 and is currently short of a few hundred scientists