After Army Ignores TCL, Ordnance Factory Under GIL Has Become Next Target

www.indianpsu.com is closely monitoring the developments taking place in the 41 Ordnance Factories after Corporatization. We are regularly reporting to our esteemed viewers about all these developments. We are happy that a large number of viewers are regularly following the stories / articles. Today one more development has come to our notice.

Man dropping Parachutes are most strategic items since these Parachutes carry the soldiers and their life is precious for the country, and that is why during the year 2018 the Ministry of Defence have declared more than 250 items as “Non Core” giving free hand to the Armed Forces for procuring these items from private sector, Parachute was kept as a “Core” item and earmarked for Ordnance Factories.

However, even for this “Core” item the Ministry of Defence have now decided to procure from Private Sector. On the 01 st of December, 2022, Defence Ministry floated a tender for procurement of quantity 350 Combat Free Fall Parachute System along with complete accessories under Emergency Procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) ignoring the Ordnance Parachute Factory under GIL. The AIDEF which already in logger heads with the Ministry of Defence post Corporatization has now shooted another Letter to the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh protesting
against this tender.

www.indianpsu.com accessed a copy of AIDEF Letter dated 14.01.2023 and immediately contacted C.Srikumar, General Secretary of AIDEF for his reaction. He said that we anticipated all these developments and that is why we have vehemently opposed Corporatization of Ordnance Factories and we continue to fight against the same. The present decision of floating tender even for the most strategic Parachutes is atrocious and is not a wise decision on the security point of view, and hence we are immediately brought this to the notice of the Defence Minister. We will fight back in the interest of the nation. Ordnance Factories are the assets of the country and cannot be allowed to be destroyed for the interest of some Private Corporate – said C.Srikumar. The contents of AIDEF Letter dated 14.01.2023 addressed to Rajnath Singh is published here for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu.com –

MOST URGENT

Ref. No. 04/1004/Min./AIDEF/23 Date : 14 th January, 2023

To,
Shri. Rajnath Singh ji,.
Honourable Defence Minister
Government of India
South Block, New Delhi – 110 001.

Subject : Protest against RFP / Tender floated by MoD for procurement of quantity 350 Combat Free Fall Parachute System along with complete accessories under Emergency Procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) ignoring the Ordnance Parachute Factory under GIL

Respected Sir,
You are aware that we are repeatedly representing against the tenders floated by Army, Navy and Air Force for procurement of various dress items / uniform from private sectors deliberately ignoring the 4 Ordnance Factories under TCL. At present we are very much shocked to know that the Ministry of Defence on 01.12.2022 have floated an RFP / Tender for procurement of the abovementioned Parachute System, ignoring the Ordnance Parachute Factory, Kanpur under Glider India Limited (GIL). You will appreciate that Ministry of Defence has declared Parachutes as Core item because of its strategic nature and it should be manufacture only in the Ordnance Factories especially OPF Kanpur. The Armed Forces are fully satisfied with the different types Parachutes being manufactured in the Ordnance Parachute Factory, Kanpur and when this is the fact we fail to understand that why the Ministry of Defence have floated an RFP / Tender for the procurement of Combat Free Fall Parachute System, ignoring the OPF, Kanpur.

You are aware that OPF, Kanpur under GIL is the only Ordnance Factory / DPSU under DDP / MoD having the State of Art Technology, infrastructure, expertise and highly competitive manpower in manufacturing and supplying of all types of Parachutes to the Armed Forces, MHA and even are exporting to many Countries. It is a Factory of more than 80 years experience in manufacturing and supplying man Carrying Parachutes, Pilot Parachutes, Brake Parachutes, Supply Dropping Parachutes, Heavy Dropping Parachutes and illuminating Parachutes to the esteemed Armed Forces of our Country. It is also pertinent to mention here that the OPF, Kanpur has already supplied the Combat Free Fall Parachutes System to the Armed Forces in the past. Despite all these facts and also the commitment given by the Hon’ble RM for handholding of the Ordnance Factories post Corporatization, the Ministry of Defence instead of directly placing the indent for the CFF Parachutes to Ordnance Parachute Factory under GIL has gone for a open tender, may be to favour certain private industries at the cost of Government owned OPF, Kanpur. We protest against this step motherly treatment and we appeal to your honour to kindly intervene in the matter and issue directions for cancelling the tender dated 01.12.2022 and to straightaway place the indent on OPF, Kanpur under GIL.

An earlier and favourable action is expected.

With kindest regards,

Yours Sincerely,

(C.SRIKUMAR)
General Secretary
Leader / Staff Side
Departmental Council (JCM)
Ministry of Defence