Government Decision To Corporatize And Split OFB into 7 Corporations A Historical Blunder – Say AIDEF, INDWF & BPMS
Ultimately the Cabinet yesterday took a decision to split the Indian pioneer Defence Industry, the Ordnance Factory Board into a 7 corporations. This has happened inspite of an indefinite strike negotiation pending with the Government. On 16 th June, 2021 the decision is taken by the Government and on 15 th of June, 2021 the CLC(C) has closed the conciliation proceedings. Federations allege that the CLC(C) has succumbed to the pressure of the Government. The Federations have now going to revive their indefinite strike against the Government’s decision.
A press release issued in this regard jointly by the three Federations, AIDEF, INDWF and BPMS today is given below for the information for viewers of www.indianpsu.com –
220 years old Ordnance Factories to be broken into 7 Corporations !
An historical mistake and blunder by the Government ! Will have serious impact on the security and Defence Preparedness of our Country !
Workforce of Ordnance Factories reject Government’s arbitrary and ill conceived decision !
The fourth Arm of the Indian Defence, the 220 years old Indian Ordnance Factories is splintered into 7 pieces. The Government by deciding to convert the Ordnance Factory Board, a Government organization into 7 Corporations has completely destroyed the fundamental concepts of strategic management by vertical integration and war insurance / reserve due to it misguided ideology. But for Ordnance Factories it is hard to imagine for the Nation how we would have won Kargil War, Indo-Pakistan War, Bangladesh Liberation War and for that matter even strengthening Defence equipments in Ladak etc.
Not only in War time but in peace time last year when the country was in the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic and the entire country was on lockdown it was the Ordnance Factories and its workers produced lacs and lacs of Personal Protective Equipment required for the front line warriors. This decision of the Government to destroy the Ordnance Factories will make the nation repent. The breaking up of the OFB organization in to smaller
entities will reduce the capacity of a unified conglomerate to produce everything under one roof.
It is such a great news for the Private Corporates and Foreign Arms Manufacturers who have been finding it difficult to face the might of Ordnance
Factories for its end to end amazing capability. Ultimately what is going to happen?, a Jawan without quality troop comfort items like Uniforms, Battle Field Dress, Boots etc., a Gun without Ammunition , a Fighter Aircraft without Parachute, Small Arms without a sighting system, a vehicle without transmission and tracks. Government decision to corporatize and split Ordnance Factories will have serious impact on the
national security and Defence Preparedness’ of our country.
The entire workforce of Ordnance Factories and the 4 lakh Defence Civilian Employees reject the decision of the Government as it is against the past written agreements and assurances given by the successive Government in the past more than 20 years. The present Government taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the name of “COVID-19 Relief Package” announced its decision to corporatize and subsequently privatize the Ordnance Factories.
Against this decision of the Government the Trade Unions of the Employees started fighting back and since the Government was adamant issued a strike notice for indefinite strike, commencing from the 12 th of October, 2020. However, the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) intervened and a conciliation settlement was reached in his presence between the Federations and the Ministry of Defence on 09 th October, 2020. However, the Ministry of Defence started blatantly violating the agreements and proceeded with its decision to corporatize the Ordnance Factories. Against this series of violation by the Ministry of Defence the Federations lodge a complaint with the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) on 31.03.2021.
However, succumbing to the pressure of the Government, the CLC(C) remained a silent spectator and ultimately the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) concluded the proceedings by recording a failure Report on 15.06.2021 in the absence of the three major recognized Federations and to enable the Government to take its decision on 16.06.2021 concluded the proceedings. The entire Government machinery has gone against the Ordnance Factories and its employees. The workforce will not tolerate this injustice and will fight back including reviving the deferred strike and other legal actions. The Federations appeals to all the Political Parties, Trade Unions, Central Government Employees and the people of the Country to join hands with the workforce of the Ordnance Factories to save the Indian Ordnance Factories from this evil decision which is the most historical mistake / blunder committed by the present Government which is going to have very serious impact on the national security and Defence preparedness of the country. The Ordnance Factories will be sold out because ultimately the Government policies are to privatize all the Government Industries and to sell out the precious land and infrastructure at throw away price to the Private Corporates and crony capitalists.
As an immediate action, all the Defence Civilian Employees throughout the country in all the Defence establishment will burn the Effigy / Government decision of Corporatization on 19.06.2021. In the meantime all the Unions are called upon to hold local level action programme on today and tomorrow by holding gate meetings, black flag demonstration, wearing black badge etc. Thereafter the three Federations will meet on Sunday and take further decisions to fight back including indefinite strike.
