(use parrikar on rishis as inset in this story)
sent pics of parrikar at the event separately
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PTI
New Delhi
DRDO, the premier defence research organisation, on Wednesday sought a hike in its budget, saying China was spending close to 20 per cent of its defence outlay on R&D as compared to a mere 5-6 per cent in India which was “inadequate” to meet growing defence needs.
It also pitched for increased manpower while noting that a top heavy institution with a narrow base is not an ideal situation and that young scientists are required to work on technological needs of tomorrow.
Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) S Christopher said there were a few issues which continued to remain a cause of concern and came in the way of the organization's growth.
“There is a need for enhanced budget and augmentation of scientific manpower. A mere 5-6 per cent of defence budget for R&D is inadequate to meet the aspirations of India's defence needs especially when China spends about 20 per cent of their defence budget for R&D,” he said inaugurating the 39th Directors' Conference of DRDO here.
Raising the issue of manpower, he said it has remained stagnant since 2001.
“This is an issue which DRDO has been pursuing for a long time and currently a case for 436 scientists is with the government for approval,” he said, adding that any research and development institution depends on new blood to work on technological needs of tomorrow.
“Today the average age of scientist in DRDO is over 40 years. A top heavy and narrow base is not a healthy structure for R&D organisations. We hope the government will appreciate the gravity of the situation and take appropriate measures to ensure manpower,” he said.
On his part, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar assured DRDO of all help but said scientists need to constantly upgrade themselves and “roll up their sleeves”.
DRDO should involve the industry in producing the technologies which they have developed. “Hand-hold the industry to make some products which you may have developed”, he said.
Parrikar said the close interface of DRDO with Navy in developing technology products is well matured. DRDO should now develop similar level of interface with Army and IAF, he said.
Parrikar directed the top brass of DRDO to avoid duplication or overlapping of activities by Laboratories for greater economic efficiency. In this regard, the Cluster Heads have a major role to play. He asked the scientists not to rest on laurels but seek greater heights in innovation and technology.
Parrikar said he will look into the issue of manpower requirement. “But I think it can also be substituted by involving yourself in more technology institutes like IIT and others with the participation of students.
He said DRDO has done a lot but it needs to do more particularly in cyber and space technology.
Lauding DRDO for having done a great deal in missile technology, he, however, said, “we still lag behind in seeker technology for which we have to depend on foreign players”.
He said DRDO should work towards becoming self-sufficient in major areas in the next 5-10 years.
Parrikar wondered why one cannot produce a basic assault rifle for the armed forces or a good bullet-proof jacket for the troops.
Noting that Indian defence export is about USD 150 million, he said, “Why don't we target USD 1 billion” if not more in the next 2-3 years.
He said the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has export potential provided the scientists resolve “some small issues”.
The Meeting was attended among others by the Chief of Air Staff and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan and Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri Dr G Satheesh Reddy.
Speaking on the occasion, Raha said DRDO has been able to achieve the objectives of self reliance to a great extent in the past seven decades.
Raha said the transformation of armed forces into a strategic force with a multi spectrum capability will need to ride on the shoulders of DRDO.
Christopher said the year 2014-15 was marked by a number of achievements in every technology cluster.
He said the current value of production orders or DAC cleared systems from the DRDO stable stood at Rs 1.79 lakh crore, which does not include strategic systems.
