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Parrikar Walks Tightrope on DRDO Transfer

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Oct 18 2016 : The Economic Times (Delhi)et-18-oct

Manohar Parrikar had to intervene to sort out a transfer case of a DRDO technician, after 2 BJP leaders took differing sides in the marital row, reports Manu Pubby.

Caught in Tussle Between BJP Leaders, Parrikar Walks Tightrope on Transfer

Manu Pubby, New Delhi:

SORTING OUT A TRANSFER CASE It appears to be a long-standing marital dispute
Minister finds time after surgical strikes to counsel DRDO technician

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar had to find time out of a busy schedule just two days after the surgical strikes into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to sort out a transfer case involving a junior technician, after two BJP leaders took differing sides in what appears to be a long-standing marital dispute.
Parrikar, who was in Dehradun on October 1, met the junior technician -Subodh Kumar -who works with the Defence Research and Development Organisation at the Jolly Grant airport, counselling him to take up the transfer.

The reason for the defence minister to get involved is a tussle between two BJP leaders.

18-oct-et-2While one side has been in touch with the defence ministry to post Kumar out from Dehradun to Kanpur, the other side has sent representations to Parrikar to stall the transfer, citing ill health of his parents and the condition of his disabled brother.

Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Member of Parliament Ramesh Pokhriyal `Nishank’ wrote to Parrikar in September, asking him to stall the posting on the request of Kumar’s parents.On the other side is the BJP’s rep resentative from Saharanpur, Raghav Lakhanpal, who Kumar says has been in touch with the ministry to get him posted out.

“There has been pressure from Mr Lakhanpal who is known to my wife’s family to get me posted out. But my side of the story was never heard, I was asked to report to Kanpur with an assurance that I will be posted back soon,“ Subodh Kumar told ET.

The defence ministry did not respond to a detailed questionnaire sent by ET and despite repeated efforts Raghav Lakhanpal did not offer any comments. Letters and meeting records accessed by ET reveal that Manohar Parrikar is walking a tightrope in the case.On her part, the wife has alleged in her representation to the ministry that Kumar was abusive and was troubling her for the past year.et-18-oct-16

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50% of Rafale deal value will be invested in India: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

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By MEERA MOHANTY & Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 11 May, 2015, 07.04AM IST

NEW DELHI: Terrorists, irrespective of wherever they may be operating from, should be neutralised using all types of methods, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told ET in an exclusive interview. He elaborated that “neutralisation” doesn’t necessarily mean killing terrorists but making them “ineffective.”

Parrikar also criticised ex-BJP minister Arun Shourie, saying the latter “does not have the full brief on what is happening”. Shourie had recently said the Narendra Modi government was faltering on policymaking and delivery.

Responding to a question on how India should deal with terrorists in foreign territory, the defence minister said: “A terrorist has to be neutralised-…Certain issues cannot be discussed but I feel that for any enemy of the country, all types of methods should be used to neutralise them.”

“Neutralising does not mean just killing…it means any method that makes them non-functional – get him to jail or to make him ineffective in any manner,” Parrikar added.

In his wide-ranging interaction with ET covering several key policy areas, Parrikar also set out the exact figure on India’s manufacturing share of the Rafale fighter jet project – France will need to spend 50% of the contract value, almost four billion dollars, as investments in the Indian defence and aerospace sector. The minister said the Rafale jet project will “unleash Make-in- India”.

Parrikar also said that with India buying around 36 Rafale jets for now, government savings on this project is likely to be up Rs 60,000-65,000 crore. This money, Parrikar said, will be used to accelerate defence manufacturing in India, including speeding up the long-ingestation Light Combat Aircraft. The minister said LCA will be inducted in large numbers, up to 200 fighters or 10 squadrons.
Parrikar linked low levels infiltration from Pakistan and fewer incidents of cross-border firing this year to Indian forces’ strong retaliation to “misadventures”.

Acknowledging that defence forces face an issue on resources, the minister said all three wings, army, air force and navy, must prioritise spending. All three wings have been asked to make a list of must-have items, Parrikar said. He said Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would have a new head by May 24.

DRDO will also have a separate Scientific Advisor, who will be attached to the ministry for independent advice. Parrikar said for important projects he will form consortiums of all stakeholders from the government system, it won’t be just DRDO taking all the critical decisions.​If the army has to operate in the Jammu & Kashmir, it needs AFSPA: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

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Extension plea of top scientists rejected, govt bats for younger directors

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Manu Pubby New Delhi, November 4, 2014 | UPDATED 20:04 IST- Indiatodayin

The government has struck down a request by the DRDO to grant four of its top scientists a service extension with the Prime Minister stepping in personally to ensure that the organisation does not add to its massive bank of scientists who have been working well past their retirement age.

In a move that has brought cheer to the younger scientists of the organization, the PMO refused to entertain a request by the DRDO’s departmental peer review committee to extend the service of four of its lab directors beyond the age of 60 years.

In the past, recommendations of the peer review committee were routinely accepted by the government and in most cases scientists were given an extension of two years to four years. However, as reported by the India Today, the new government is keen to have a younger profile of scientists in the organization and has already expressed concern about the increasing age profile in a field that requires cutting edge technology and expertise.

Sources said that four scientists including Prof MP Kaushik (DRDE Director), Dr VC Padaki (DEBEL Director) and DS Sistla Ravind (LRDE Director) had been recommended by DRDO Chief Avinash Chander for an extension of service. While the file made it all the way through the appointments committee of cabinet, sources said that the request was turned at the Prime Minister’s desk. The DLRL Lab director is also not to get an extension of service.

Officials said that the decision not to grant an extension was taken as part of the government’s new policy to promote younger talent with PM Narendra Modi already instructing that at least five labs should have directors below the age of 35.

However, as things most top scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who are tasked with creating weapons for future have passed the retirement age of 60 and are on service extensions.

The old age problem starts from the very head of the organization with DRDO chairman Avinash Chander already on two extensions. The previous government even approved a extraordinary contract to give Chander a 18-month contractual tenure from November when he turns 64, the maximum age till which service extensions can be given.

As reported by the India Today, most director generals at the headquarters and the heads of six of DRDO’s 54 labs and establishments are currently on extension. As many as 10 of the 16 top DRDO scientists are on extension. Internal surveys have found that nearly 87 per cent of the young scientists who join DRDO soon get disenchanted with the archaic, rigid structure of the research body that does not reward extraordinary performance with proportional career growth.