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With DRDO chief S Christopher’s posting, govt signals end of extension era

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By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 30 May, 2015, 05.44AM IST

NEW DELHI: The government has sent a firm signal against the rampant culture of service extensions at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with the appointment of its new head, S Christopher, who has superseded the top four scientists who are all on their second extension at the country’s premier research body.

While questions are now being raised about the future of the four scientists – who are designated as director generals of different branches at DRDO headquarters and are several years senior in service to Christopher – the government has made its preference for promoting younger scientists clear

When DRDO chief Avinash Chander was removed from his post in January, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that one of the reasons for the change was that the government wanted younger scientists to come up. Going by this principle, the government considered only Christopher and AM Datar for the post, with Christopher making the cut on the basis of seniority, officials said.
While Chander was removed from the job with a terse message from the cabinet secretariat, the future of the four scientists on second extension – which allows them to serve till the age of 64 against the retirement age of 60 – may not be too bright.

The second top appointment at DRDO is also being watched with much interest. The choice of GS Reddy, a missile scientist, to the newly created separate post of Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri, is believed to be part of a new deep selection approach to groom talent. patern et 30 may 2015

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‘DRDO Chariot’ Donation Issue Reaches Parliament, Parrikar Says Probe Ongoing

By Pradip R Sagar Published: 09th May 2015 05:00 AM – The New Indian Express

Parrikar2-PTINEW DELHI: A probe is on into allegations that a Pune-based laboratory of the country’s premier defence research agency DRDO had developed and donated a hi-tech chariot to a temple, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar informed Parliament on Friday.

Express in its report dated November 23 had reported that the DRDO laboratory had spent `5 crore to develop a hi-tech chariot and donated it to Alandi Temple in Pune.

Responding to a` question raised in the Lok Sabha by TDP MP C H Malla Reddy on the matter, Parrikar said in a written reply that the matter is “under inquiry”.

“Further action would be taken thereafter,” he added.

This shocking piece of information came out after a scientist of the same laboratory moved the Bombay High Court over the absurd venture and filed a complaint with the CVC.

The scientist, was made to pay for raising his voice. The DRDO, in turn, not only stripped him off from ongoing projects, but also transferred him from the centre.

Dr S Guruprasad, Director of the laboratory Research and Development Establishment (engineers), Pune, had told Express that they had built the battery-operated chariot over a year’s time and the DRDO carried out the project under the head of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The chariot can run for about 12 hours and the battery takes six hours to get fully charged. The chariot is made of carbon fibre, which has reduced its weight considerably to 1,900 kg from about 4,000 kg of the old chariot.

R&DE, Pune, has a mandate to design and develop combat engineering systems such as military bridging and mine warfare systems, development of field defence systems and, design and development of weapon launch systems such as Prithvi, Agni, Brahmos, Nirbhay, among others.

While numerous DRDO projects such as the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Nag missile, long-range surface-to-air missile and the airborne early warning and control system have been delayed and have cost much higher than their original estimates, indulging in such an expensive “religious” project have raised many eyebrows.

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DNA: Parliamentary committee pulls up DRDO

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http://indiareckoner.net/2014/12/dna-parliamentary-committee-pulls-up-drdo/

India’s premier defence research organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation’s inordinate delays, corruption and its fancy for reverse engineering has resulted in Parliamentary standing committee on defence raising the red flag on DRDO budget for 2014-15.

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No IAS can beat the DRDO technocrats

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Government having best IAS to govern and run the government machinery, for that, time to time government order published to take care the smooth functioning of various departments.

Sometimes they observed that the orders are manipulated for wasted interest by various departments.

Recently DOPT published an order for “Grant of extension/re-employment to Central Government servants beyond the age of superannuation F.No.22/35/2011-EO (SM.II) dated 24th September, 2014”

In Para 1 of above order  “The ACC has observed that in some of the cases, the Departments are not taking timely action to reconstitute the Departmental Peer Review Committee (DPRC) and are unilaterally extending the service of the officers beyond the age of superannuation without first obtaining approval of the ACC.”

Sh Narendra Modi ji canceled 4 scientists of DRDO’s extensions on 31st October 2014 but since August 2014. He was expressed his view that flag of research sectors should be in the hand of young achievers.

It seems DRDO’s technocrat mafia took it as challenge a start playing their gimmick the recent example of appointment of Dr. Pushkar Raj Scientist ‘G’ ,Director, DTC (Defence Technology Commission)  secretariat DRDO HQ, New Delh.

The DRDO Internal Order No O14.066 dated 26-SEP-2014 stated that “authority has approved appointment of Dr. Pushkar Raj, Scientist ‘G’, as Director DTC Secretariat, at DRDO HQ, with immediate effect. This appointment is for a period of 03 years from the date of assumption.

Now the best part of above order is as per official records Dr. PUSHKAR RAJ Sc G, HQ_DTC SECTT’s  date of birth is 20-Jul-1955, than how can DRDO authority appointed him beyond the age of 60 years without approval of ACC. 

Only GOD knows that how DRDO is running, there is  no rules following by DRDO, in one LAB director is purchasing wine from poor tax payers money, other Lab Director is busy in manufacturing silver chariot for religious ceremony costing 2.5 crores from again poor tax payers  pocket, DG Sh Avinash Chander busy to please his shisya first promoted, than made her Director of Lab by superseding and ignoring numbers of senior scientists, not only this Chander recruited her husband as Scientist ‘G’ and made him Director,QRS,  DOP is busy to help his sister to harass genuine scientists by issuing charge sheet, also helping his corrupt friend directors for harass whistle blowers,   everywhere you will find  despoliation/  vandalism in DRDO.

When head is corrupt then who will run the show honestly – only GOD, Modi Ji or now Parrikar Ji can save our premier defence organization.

Jai Hind

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

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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

NTRO tranfers officer for exposing corruption

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Dalip Singh | Mail Today | New Delhi, June 14, 2011

Suresh Sharma exposed corruption and nepotism in sensitive appointments made by top brass of NTRO. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/national-technical-research-organisation-tranfers-officer-for-exposing-corruption/1/141405.html
Suresh Sharma exposed corruption and nepotism in sensitive appointments made by top brass of NTRO.

A senior official in the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is facing the heat for blowing the whistle on corruption and nepotism in the premier intelligence body.

Director (establishment) Suresh Sharma was moved out of the NTRO’s Delhi headquarters after red-flagging large-scale irregularities in sensitive appointments made by the organisation brass.

The NTRO has been courting bad publicity following an as yet-unreleased report by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG), criticising the organisation for alleged irregularities in the purchase of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

The organisation, set up after the Kargil war to spruce up technical intelligence, reports to the National Security Adviser who is answerable directly to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The PMO has sought the NTRO’s response on the CAG report.
In January, about a month before he was moved to Bangalore, Sharma wrote to NSA Shiv Shankar Menon accusing senior adviser P. V. Kumar of aiding irregularities in the appointment of external pilots and scientists, among other posts. Recently, Kumar was elevated as the NTRO head.

The PMO had forwarded Sharma’s complaint for appropriate action to Kumar, then acting chairman of the NTRO. As nothing seemed to have come of it, the PMO sent a reminder on March 30 and asked for an action taken report.

India today2The PMO also constituted a single-member inquiry panel under Kumar to look into the complaints of irregular appointments. Strangely, the complaints were marked to Kumar despite the fact that the supervisory role of the NTRO chairman was not above board.

A detailed questionnaire was faxed to the NTRO chairman more than a week back, seeking his response on the serious charges against him and allegations of corruption in the premier organisation. However, Kumar refused to file a reply despite several reminders.

Sharma had alleged in his letter to the NSA that Kumar had attempted to water down the true findings of his inquiry panel. Sharma could not be reached for comments despite making several calls to Bangalore.

Sharma, who was holding the charge of additional controller (administration) in the NTRO, stated in his fivepage complaint that he had tried to apprise Kumar of the appointments violating all government norms and corruption in the organisation.

“A lot of pressure was mounted on me to change my notes but, as a dutiful officer of central government posted in a very sensitive organisation, I did not succumb to any such pressure,” he wrote.

The letter quotes several instances to give a glimpse of what is wrong in the NTRO. A group captain (retired) posted at the Dehradun aviation base was shielded despite complaints of corruption pending against him. As a cover-up exercise, the NTRO ordered an inquiry against him. But its establishment division suggested the probe report not be accepted as it did not follow government regulations. Once the objections were raised on the official file, it was never returned to the establishment division, Sharma alleged.

Two officers were employed on a contract basis in the organisation at the joint secretary-level. The NTRO, overlooking the PMO’s directive putting a cap on employment at 65 years’ age, wanted to extend their services. The NTRO suggested the two could be appointed at ‘job contract basis’, which too was illegal.

The CAG report is also believed to have taken note of the irregularities. But it is suspected the government is not willing to make the report public as it would open up a can of worms which would be difficult for the PMO to defend.

Drdo

Perform or perish: Antony tells DRDO

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Perform or perish: Antony tells DRDO

PTI | May 29, 2013, 08.08 PM IST – Times of India

Antony told the country's premier government-run organisation responsible for manufacturing defence equipment that it should adhere to the timelines and satisfy the user.
Antony told the country’s premier government-run organisation responsible for manufacturing defence equipment that it should adhere to the timelines and satisfy the user.

NEW DELHI: Reflecting frustration over long delays of strategic projects like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), defence minister A K Antony came down hard on DRDO, saying there is a “limit to time slippages” and that it should “perform or perish”.

Antony told the country’s premier government-run organisation responsible for manufacturing defence equipment that it should adhere to the timelines and satisfy the user.

He specifically referred to the LCA project, which has not fructified even after nearly three decades of inception, and said, “I am waiting that the LCA should become a reality.”

The defence minister said in military development projects across the globe, it is a “herculean task” to meet timelines and there are time slippages. “But there is limit for slippages,” he said, clearly reflecting the frustration.

“In the times of cut-throat competition, the choice is very clear, perform or perish. In delivery of strategic systems, timelines must be adhered to and the satisfaction of the user is the litmus test,” Antony said at a DRDO awards function.

Asking the DRDO to focus on its core competence and “not fritter away its resources and energy”, he said, “Do not think that I am criticising you, I am with you in all times but as the minister of defence, it is my duty to say some things to you.”

On the LCA programme, he said he had been given a particular date by the DRDO. “I hope that it is the final date and the aircraft gets its Initial Operational Clearance II.”

The IOC-I of the LCA was held in January 2011 in Bangalore and its IOC-II was scheduled to be held in July but it has now been postponed to be held in November.

Antony asked the team of HAL, DRDO and the IAF to work together on the LCA project and ensure that it achieves the IOC-II and then the final operational clearance by the end of next year.

Drdo

Tatra trucks have performed well for Indian Army: DRDO chief

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ANI | Mar 31, 2012, 04.54PM IST

NEW DELHI: Defence Research Development Organisation ( DRDO) chief V. K. Saraswat on Saturday defended the use of Tatra trucks in the Indian Army, saying the vehicles had performed rather well.

Describing the Tatra trucks as “outstanding” and not at all of sub-standard quality, Saraswat said the trucks have been used to launch missiles like the Prithvi and the Agni.

“Tatra truck is an outstanding truck… They have a very good cross country capability and can move at good speeds,” Saraswat told media at Defence Expo here.

“The performance of these vehicles has been good in the armed forces and we have no complaints about it. We will have more of them if there was any further requirement of these trucks. However, if the government gives direction against using them, the premier research organization will stop doing so,”Saraswat said.

He also described Defence Minister A K Antony and Chief of Army Staff General V.K.Singh as good people who should handle their differences, if any, with more caution.

Readers’ opinions

Victor (Hyderabad) 
16 hrs ago (06:11 PM)
Please investigate Saraswat. His son-in-law, joined a company making missile components under contract from DRDO and the company went from BIFR status to over 100 crores. Dont trust his statements.

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Who is to blamed for this deterioration of premier R&D organisation?

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Since its inception, DRDO formulated a task which was to assist three services in their day to day technical requirements. Dr. Daulat Singh Kothari the First Scientific Adviser to RM followed by Prof. Suri Bhagavantham and Dr. Basanti Dulal Nagchaudhuri laid the foundation to strengthened the three services with technical backup. The then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi provided all out support to R&D organisation. The missile program, the explosive research, the communication research and including acoustic were facilitated. Based on the foundation the charter duties were laid such that there won’t be duplication of work. There was honesty in the system, the greed was the lowest level, and people respected their jobs, worked hard, tandem with service officers. There was a mutually agreed, unwritten accountability. This was continued till Dr. Raja Ramanna was Scientific Adviser to RM.
When Dr.Vallampadugai Srinivasaraghavan Arunachalam took over charge of Scientific Adviser to RM, being Shanti Swaroop Bhatnager awardee, he gave a new direction to accelerate the research activity, so as to put Indian defence in forefront of self reliance. However, his long tenure as Scientific Adviser to RM will remembered as the period of “Infrastructure Development” , acquisition of plenty land(unused available in prime locations), building constructions(thousands square feet covered area now unutilized standing with most of the labs and one of the major source of siphoning money in the name of maintenance) , recruitment of huge manpower (low quality via RAC)  and proposition of major programs( Arjun Tank, IGMDP, LCA etc) were the key features.
Due to his close proximity with power corridor of the government, he had the blessing of holding absolute power as a result absolute corruption piped in to DRDO corridor.
Estate Management Unit (EMU), DRDO took over from Military Engineering Services (MES) for all major infrastructure development activities. Money started flowing in DRDO corridors, and scientific community also started developing a taste for money flow.
Now aim and objectives of top DRDO force start detourting, under major programs scientists/technologist stopped reinventing the wheel and started importing the items and derailed process of learning in various stages of development. The aim to develop import substitute left in the background and proving the concept came into the forefront by importing the obsolete technology mainly from Russia, Israel, USA, etc.
All the develop countries took minimum 15 years of time from the concept to prototype development, to user trials, to production of the equipment/systems. When output fails in user trails, DRDO authority gave a plea that “we are 100 crores people and nobody can attack on us”.
1999 Kargil war however exposed our systematic approach of development, questioned our efforts in strengthening the national defence. The infighting started in between R&D organisation, each national lab blamed each other for their incompetence. The gadria moving goats identified the intruders but our over surveillance systems failed to identify the barracks developed by intruders at LOC.
The subsequent Scientific Adviser to RM Dr. Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre, when assumed the charge stated to media that “in ten years we have not developed any products”. Unfortunately he was number-2 in DRDO for the last ten years. Then who did he blame.
In today’s scenario as far as product from DRDO is concerned we are no where except the demonstration capabilities to the user.
We have imported AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), BFSR (Battle Field Surveillance Radar), Sea Skimmer Missiles and Land Mine Detectors. Who will analyze for this deterioration of R&D scenario. Crores and crores are spent on salaries, infrastructures developments, TA/DA for attending marriages, transport allowances, even though government transport are used.
Today the 52 labs of DRDO do not even have 52 products (each lab one end product)
Who is to blamed for this deterioration of premier R&D organisation?   

Fighting Corruption in DRDO