Last Updated on May 20, 2016 1:01 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
AMN
INDIA’S Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that said his government is in favour of reducing dependence on import in defence sector to below 40 percent from the present 60-65 percent in the next five to eight years. He said that it could be achieved through Make in India campaign. In an interview to All India Radio, he said the move will make the country self-reliant in defence production.
The Defence Minister said his Ministry removed obstacles in the way of procurement of defence equipment through a transparent mechanism. He said the impact of new Defence Procurement Policy will be visible only after a year as defence procurement is a very complex and lengthy process.
Mr Parrikar said, the NDA government has taken several measures to further strengthen the security of the country during last two years of its rule. He said the government fulfilled the long pending demand of defence forces for One Rank One Pension, OROP scheme. He said, this step will bolster the confidence and morale of security forces and they will be able to thwart the evil designs of enemy. Mr. Parikkar said OROP will not have any adverse impact on the Defence budget.
On modernization of defence forces, the Defence Minister said, two indigenously manufactured Tejas, Light Combat Aircrafts (LCA) have already been inducted in the Air Force and its first squadron will be ready to fly by September-October this year. He said, 6 new submarines are under construction at Mazagaon Docks.
He admitted that corruption in defence procurement during the previous regime had affected defence preparedness and after Bofors scam, procurement of guns had come to a standstill. Mr. Parikkar said, the trial of Dhanush gun manufactured by ordnance factory in the country is underway and production of self-propelled guns in the private sector with 50 percent indigenous content has been approved and contracts will be given in next 2-3 months. He said, production of ordnance factories have gone up by 15-20 percent in the recent past.
Mr. Parikkar said, indiscriminate blacklisting of defence manufacturers makes procurement costlier. On Rafael aircraft deal, he said, it would be finalized very soon. He said, government is engaged in last minute bargaining to reduce its price. In response to another question, the Defence Minister said, the strength of combat forces will not be cut down rather it will be strengthened. He, however, said non-combat employees’ strength can be rationalized and for this a committee has been set up. The committee has been asked to submit its report in three months.