Expansion
The impact of the Russo-Ukraine war may have an impact on India’s defense preparedness. For this the Indian defense industry is worried. Most war machines are of Russian origin, if a part is not found from there, it will not take long for the ‘cannon’ and other equipment to become toys. C. Sreekumar, general secretary of the All India Defense Employees Federation, said, it would be worthwhile to pay attention to the remarks of the Indian Army Chief in the context of the Ukraine war. We have to prepare for future wars with indigenous weapons. Self-reliance in defence, India will have to take immediate steps in this direction. Future wars should be fought with their own weapon system. The central government is running the opposite. Ordnance factories have been converted into seven corporations. The Defense Employees Federation is also in a war zone against the government’s decision and the impact of the current situation. There will be a massive protest in 41 ordnance factories on March 28-29 against the privatization policy of the Centre. The Defense Secretary has been informed by the federation in this regard.
Did NATO break Ukraine’s trust?
AIDEF General Secretary C. Sreekumar said, “Recently, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has made many remarks in the context of Ukraine war. He has laid special emphasis on the importance and importance of indigenous defense equipment. The vortex in which Ukraine is trapped today is the result of over-zealousness and unwavering trust in the countries of the European Union, particularly NATO, and of course, the United States. Ukraine was confident that the European Union would defend it in the war. He collided with Russia without assessing his capabilities to face the war. What we actually see, however, is an entirely different story, prompting Ukraine to fix itself against a war started by Russia. The story breaks Ukraine’s belief that NATO and the US will come to its rescue in the event of a war with Russia. There were many requests by Ukraine for help, but no one took care of the need.
may have adverse effect on combat capabilities
As Sreekumar, it gives an interesting insight into the Indian context of corporatisation and privatization initiated by the present government against state-owned Indian Ordnance Factories and other units under the DDP on the plea of bringing in foreign direct investment etc. The saga of Ukraine is a reminder to us of what is in stock for countries seeking privatization, FDI and collaborating with foreign entities for their defense preparedness. India’s 41 Ordnance Factories, which have now been converted into seven corporations, are more than two hundred years old organizations. The government has paved the way for their dissolution. This is a matter of utmost concern for every Indian. Since most of the war machines with India are of Russian (USSR) origin. Any defect in the supply of much needed spares from Russia or the erstwhile Russian Federation countries will seriously affect the combat capabilities of our Armed Forces. If India has to become self-reliant in the defense sector, then it has to bring the defense industry back from the corporation to the government sector. The demands of the employees have to be met.
The plan of corporatization was prepared in a hurry
Was this the ultimate aim of the government when they hadtily planned the most unscientific and illogical corporatisation of ordnance factories? We also fear that this situation will be used by unscrupulous elements/industrialists in the country to make profit without responsibility and let the country suffer, says Sreekumar. It is time for the government to modernize, reorganize ordnance factories as government entities with functional autonomy and integrate them with the facilities and products developed by DRDO. If the government is still thinking that the so-called private sector will be able to supply modern warfare equipment such as arms and ammunition in time to defense production, then this is a misconception. This belief has been proved many times in countries around the world. The government is requested that Ukraine should take lessons from the war. Give serious consideration to the restoration of the Indian Ordnance Factories to their original status i.e. as a government entity. The current requirement of the Indian Armed Forces supports this.