Do not privatise arms production: Defence staff

BENGALURU: Members of the All-India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) launched a scathing attack against the central government for handing over manufacturing of over 200 defence products to the private sector. 

AIDEF general secretary C. Srikumar said that the Narendra Modi government has formulated policies against the defence industry as the decision to allow 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence production would render would render over four lakh employees jobless. 

“It is a threat to national security. Private players will dictate terms to the government and armed forces. The Director General Quality Assurance 
(DGQA) which inspects the quality of equipment has also been made redundant,” he said. 

At a meeting, AIDEF members discussed the shocking closure of Army Postal Service and the union government’s decision to shut down 39 military farms. 

AIDEF vice-president M.K. Ravindran Pillai said that national assets should not be handed over to the private sector. 

“More than 30,000 army civilian employees have been declared surplus and it is in contradiction with the government’s policy to generate employment. The proposal of the NITI Aayog for introducing the PPP model in the Small Arms 
Group of Factories in the name of the joint venture is nothing but handing over national assets to corporates,” he said. 

AIDEF represents 41 ordnance factories, 52 DRDO labs, DGQA and various armed forces establishments. 

Before the decision is brought to effect from April 1, 2018, the AIDEF has decided to come up with a massive protest in New Delhi in February. 

If the government fails to pay heed to the demands of affected employees, they have threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike.