Ordnance Factories Come In The Limelight Once Again In The Backdrop Of Indo-Pak Conflicts

The Indo-Pak Conflict is increasing day-by-day. India thwarted Pakistan over night unprovoked offensive by hitting Lahore and Islamabad. Loud explosions once again were heard in Jammu, triggering emergency sirens throughout the region. Security forces have intensified vigilance and the situation is being closely monitored by the authorities. Indian authorities have claimed that at least 100 Terrorists are estimated to have been eliminated in strikes carried out by the Armed Forces on Terror Camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, while speaking at the National Conclave organized by the DRDO said India has been a responsible nation but if any one tests its patience, they would face quality action.

Raksha Mantri, in his speech appreciated the DRDO that the partnership of DRDO and academia is reaching new heights. He also mentioned about the Corporatization of Ordnance Factories. He is stated that “ equal emphasis is being laid on quality and quantity in Defence Production with many revolutionary steps being taken in that direction, including corporatization of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). He termed Quality as the Government’s Priority Reform Agenda, highlighting that since the corporatization of OFB, DPSUs have become internationally competitive and export-oriented, with efforts being made to advance quality production.

Further, he pointed out that one of the objectives behind the progress of the Public Sector has been to develop a Healthy Competitive Private Defence Ecosystem, which will strengthen India’s Security through quality”.

Ordnance Factories have once again come in the limelight

Employees who have availed leave are being called back cancelling their leave. CMD’s and the GM’s of the Corporations are found to remain alert. The AVNL which was refusing to give Overtime to its employees have now started deploying workers on Overtime to meet the Production Target as there is an acute shortage of Skilled Manpower. The TCL which was virtually not having any work also is now gearing up since the Ordnance Factories under TCL are also being loaded by the Army. Whether, good days are ahead for the Ordnance Factories has to be seen.

www.indianpsu.com approached C. Srikumar, General Secretary of AIDEF for his reaction on the above statement and also about the role of the Ordnance Factories in the present tense situation in the Border. His response, is published here :-

The Workmen of Ordnance Factories have never compromised about the Quality of the Products what they are manufacturing. Quality of the Products manufactured in Ordnance Factories has nothing to do with the Corporatizations of Ordnance Factories. The Indian Ordnance Factories is a 223 years old Defence Industry in our Country and Quality of the Products right from Uniform to Ammunition, Arms, Weapons, Tanks, Vehicles etc., is always the Top Priority of the workmen. India has faced 04 major wars after Independence. All these wars were faced by the Indian Army only with the Qualitative Products of Ordnance Factories when it was DGOF & OFB. Army never had any complaints in the past about the Quality of the products of Ordnance Factories. In fact prior to Corporatization the Quality of the Products was not only ensured by the Factories that also there were the Independent QA Agencies the DGQA for the products supplied to the Army, DGAQA for the products supplied to Airforce and DGANI for the products supplied to Navy. If one go through the records and the correspondence with in the Chief of the Army and then DGOF / Chairman of OFB he can understand that how the Army was appreciating the products of the Ordnance Factories especially with regard to the Quality and also timely delivery. During the Kargil Crisis the Ordnance Factories workers worked Day and Night and without even not going to their home produced and supplied whatever was required for the Armed forces without any compromise on the quality.

He added that the Defence Ministry, to encourage the Private Sector in Defence Production has established Defence Corridors in different part of the Country. They were not able to do any breakthrough in supporting the Armed forces. We are still holding our views firmly that Ordnance Factories should be brought back directly to the Government as Ordnance Factory Board and all the 41 Ordnance Factories should be under one umbrella. Post-Corporatization of Ordnance Factories the Ordnance Factories were neglected by the Authorities. Manpower has been drastically reduced within these 04 years of Corporatization and as of now there is no “War Reserve”. Our demand to fill up all the vacancies so as to keep the trained manpower available to meet any exigencies is not being considered positively. To meet the manpower shortage we have also being demanding to restore Overtime working in the Ordnance Factories and also to maintain cordial Industrial Relation by the 07 Corporations so that the workforce remains motivated. Ordnance Factories are equally important for the Defence of the Nation like Army, Navy & Airforce. Despite all the difficulties and the problems the employees of Ordnance Factories are facing Post-Corporatisation, the workforce are always available for the Nation and they all will rise to the occasion when the Nation is in crisis. For them Nation and defence preparedness is always the top most priority and they are all gearing up to meet the requirement of the Armed forces. Our appeal to the Hon’ble Defence Minister and the Government of India is that the Defence Civilian Employees are also sacrificing their life while performing their duty for the Defence of the Country. Recent reply given by the Government in the Parliament reveals the truth.

Therefore, the Government and the Management of the Corporations should ensure that the employees are fully motivated by taking care of their requirements and demands by publishing a notification retaining their status as a Central Government Employees till their retirement in the 07 Ordnance Factory Corporations. So that their full attention is diverted towards their National Duty and responsibility. It is the duty of the Government to ensure that all the 41 Ordnance Factories are fully loaded so that there is no shortage of any equipment required for our Armed Forces at any point of time. AIDEF as a responsible National Trade Union of the Defence Civilian Employees will be always in the forefront in strengthening the Defence preparedness of our country, concluded C. Srikumar.