Tag Archives: Defence

New Attack on Ordnance Factories

27 Saturday May 2017

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The 41 Ordnance Factories in the country which has been manufacturing equipments for the defence are are in danger of closing down or privatisation. The first step in to bring private participation. The private companies have been clamouring for permission to enter in to the much profitable defence market. Lakhs of crores of rupees are spent every year for defence production and purchases.

The government has issued directive to the army to 87 items for its use from the private companies. It has called for the details of the items of the defence productions and also the land owned by it. The meaning is clear. It wants to hand over a good portion of the defence production and land to the corporates and private business.

The security concerns are being ignored. Workers interests as well as that of the country are given a go-bye. Yes, every day, it is being made clear that this is a government of the Corporates. Completion of three years by Modi is being celebrated by attacking the Defence Ordnance Factories.

Attacks on Railways and Defence by Modi Government

08 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by in CG Employees

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Modi Government is moving towards privatisation of railways and defence Production, which are national assets and have high security risk.An extract from the Website post of Confederation of CG Employees and Workers is given below for information. The Central Government employees are going on strike on 16th March 2017 on demands including the above as also against the retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC and demanding minimum wage etc.

ATTACK ON RAILWAYS.

After the Narendra Modi Government coming to power 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed in Railways. A committee headed by Sri Bibek Deb Roy , Member , NITI Ayog (National Institute for Transformation of India Ayog) was appointed for restructuring of Railways. The committee recommended complete privatisation of Railways. AIRF in its resolution adopted in the 92nd Annual Conference held at Allahabad from 8th to 10th December 2016, stated as follows:

“NDA Government assumed power on 26th May 2014. The General Body meeting of AIRF held on 3rd and 4th July 2016 at Chennai, decided to defer the strike decision to provide time to the new Government to settle and resolve grievances. But the same Government by a notification dated 22nd August 2014, decided to induct 100% FDI in Indian Railways, Defence establishments etc. The Government appointed a high level Railway Restructuring Committee, on 22nd September 2014, headed by Sri Bibek Deb Roy, for restructuring Railways. The same committee had drawn a road map for privatisation and went ahead gradually, despite all out protest by AIRF. ”

The merger of the Railway Budget with the General Budget was one of the key recommendations on Bibek Deb Roy committee, as an important step towards privatisation of Railways. Government has implemented the decision from this year onwards, on top priority basis. It is also reported in the media that Government has decided to privatise heritage and tourist Railways like Kalka – Shimla, Siliguri – Darjeeling and Nilgiri (Ootty) railways. BIBEK DEB ROY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE BEGIN ING OF THE END OF THE GOVT OWNED INDIAN RAILWAYS.

To add insult to injury, the Railway Board has issued orders curtailing the basic trade union rights of Railway employees. AIRF circular issued on 2nd February 2017 reads as follows:
“In continuation of our earlier letter of even no. dated 1st February 2017, you are advised to observe “Black Day” on 6th February 2017 wearing black badges/ribbons, right from branch to zonal levels, at all important offices of your Railway administrations, DEMANDING WITHDRAWAL OF RAILWAY BOARD’S LETTER DATED 31.01.2017, WHEREIN THE BOARD HAVE DECIDED TO DEBAR SUPERVISORS (IN ERSTWHILE GRADE PAY OF 4200) WORKING IN SAFETY CATEGORIES FROM TRADE UNION.

ATTACK ON DEFENCE SECTOR
The situation in Defence sector is also not different. All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) in its circular dated 04.02.2017, has conveyed the following developments to its rank and file:

“The ordnance factories are under severe attack due to the policies being adopted by the BJP – led NDA Government. Instead of developing and strengthening the ordnance factories, the Govt. is disowning the same and is planning fully to proceed to weaken the ordnance factories. Licences are being given to private companies for defence manufacturing including for those products which are being manufactured in the ordnance factories.”

In a meeting of Senior Officers held on 5th January 2017, the Secretary, Ministry of Defence made the following comments –
“You have to reduce the cost, otherwise you will not get workload in future, you have to compete with the private sector for getting workload. Two years is the period for ordnance factories.”

Recently Sri Manohar Parikar, Defence Minister , who visited AFK Pune , in the meeting held with unions has stated that —” Factories which are manufacturing clothing and leather items are not required in the Government. These items can easily be procured from private sector.”

The proposal of corporatisation (which is a step towards privatisation) is also under consideration with Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Govt has constituted another committee to identify low technology/noncore items. It is seen from the press reports that a committee constituted by Defence Minister under the chairmanship of one retired IIM Professor has recommended for creation of a new independent organisation outside the Ministry of Defence to undertake defence procurement. It is understood that a new organisation tentatively called the “DEFENCE ACQUISITION AUTHORITY” will be fully responsible for the entire process of acquisition.

Central Trade Unions oppose increase of FDI in strategic sectors like Defence, Civil Aviation etc.

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy

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The Central Trade Unions, CITU, BMS etc. have expressed their strong protest against the increase of FDI in the strategic sectors like Defence. Civil Aviation etc. making them completely under the control of the MNCs. The decision has to be withdrawn in the interest of the nation.

Defence to vacate extra spectrum for DOT

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

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Department of Defence is expected to hand over the extra spectrum in 1700-2000 Mhzband to DOT within three months, after DOT set up an exclusive defence network for its communication services. This issue has been pending for many years.

The vacated spectrum can be auctioned to the telecom companies for additional spectrum for providing services.

Swapping of Spectrum between DOT and Defence

17 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, PSU, Telecom

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Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Defence Minister Parikkar has met and discussed about the transfer of the spectrum with Defence to the DOT for auction and allotting of special spectrum for the Defence. However, It is reported that no agreement has been reached so far about the swapping of the spectrum.

Communications Minister stated that towers will be installed as per the present directions and if any compalint is there, it will be looked in to. ” According to DoT guidelines, if a mobile tower has 1 antenna, it should be installed at minimum distance of 20 metres from a house, in case of 2 antennas minimum distance should be 35 metres, for 4 antennas it should be 45 metres and for 6 antennas the minimum distance should be 55 metres. The guidelines say that there should be no building parallel to antenna and height of the antenna should be at least 5 metres above ground or roof top level.”

Certainly the anxiety of the people about radiation from the towers need be seriously considered.

Defence Ministry moves to increase FDI in Defence to 49%

03 Thursday Jul 2014

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The Defence Ministry is proposing to increase the FDI in Defence from the present 26% to 49%.
There were no FDI in Defence earlier considering the risk and security of the country. In 2001, 26% of FDI was allowed despite strong opposition from the Unions etc. Now the NDA government is proposing to increase it to 49%. The proposal of the Ministry of Commerce is to increase it to 100%!
This proposal should be strongly opposed by all and defeated.

CITU opposes moves for 100% FDI in Defence

31 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in PSU

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CITU OPPOSES MOVE FOR
ALLOWING 100% FDI IN DEFENCE PRODUCTION
FOR DISINVESTMENT/PRIVATISATION OF PSUs

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) strongly opposes Modi government’s move, as reported by the media, for allowing 100% FDI in defence sector. Such move is totally detrimental to the interests of the indigenous defence production network, mainly under government departments and PSUs, and also to national security-management and preparedness. Such move would also directly provoke disinvestment/privatization of the Defence PSUs and Ordinance factories establishment via corporatization route which could so long be successfully resisted by the united trade union movement in the country as well as all the defence sector federations including those having allegiance with the political party in power.

The CITU also expresses its deep concern and strong opposition to the overzealous drive of the government to push through disinvestment of shares in highly profit-making PSUs, mostly in the strategic, infrastructure and natural resources sector of the economy. As reported by the press, the Government has reportedly taken up as their priority agenda for off-loading government’s residual stakes at aluminum major BALCO and also expediting disinvestment in other blue-chip PSUs already shortlisted by the disinvestment department of the previous Government.

CITU urges the Government to take serious note of the unanimous opposition of the working people of the country, who actually creates GDP for the country as well as resources for the national exchequer to such disastrous exercises of disinvestment and privatization and unrestricted FDI. Such opposition has been voiced through numerous agitations by the united platform of the entire trade union movement in the country irrespective of affiliations and political allegiances during last five years.

CITU demands of the Government to restrain itself from such moves which are detrimental to the interests of the people as well as of the national economy; and calls upon the trade unions and working people to unitedly voice their opposition and put up resistance to such disastrous moves.

Forum Calls for protest action against 100% FDI in Telecom

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

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The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations in its meeting held on 17th July has strongly protested against the decision of the government to increase the FDI in Telecom Sector from 74% to 100% and in defence from 26% to 49%. This decision is completely against the security concerns of the nation. The Indian telecom companies will be taken over by the foreign companies, since they can own up to 100% as per this decision. Pumping of so much foreign money in to the sector will jeopardise the future of BSNL and MTNL.

The Forum, therefore has decided to organise agitatioanl programmes against the increase in FDI. Lunch hour demonstrations will be organised on 25th July 2013. The employees will wear badges protesting against the FDI increase and demanding dropping of the unwise decision. The badge will have the following slogan: DROP DECISION TO INCREASE FDI IN TELECOM AND DEFENCE”
Forum will continue the struggle against the FDI increase.

PM strongly back 100% FDI in Telecom

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

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This is not surprising. The Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has strongly backed the proposed increase of 100% FDI in Telecom. In fact, it is his own child. The government is trying to sell the family silver in a massive way to favour the MNCs and get some money, which is not worth even 25% of the assets.

It is also reported that he is favouring the increase of FDI from 26% to 49% which has been strongly opposed by the Defence minister A.K.Antony who termed the proposal as retrograde.

Only a very strong and committed movement can save the country from this government, who is only the manager, from selling the assets of the country whose real owners are the people of this country.  At this time people have started recollecting the entry of East India Company in India, which heralded the British rule for two centuries. History repeats, but in new form and new ways. Unless one learns lessons from history and reacts, the future will be in peril.

FDI to 76 % or 100% for Defence units in SEZ

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Maximum expenditure of the government goes to defending the country. Lakhs of crore rupees are spent on purchasing defence equipment  from US, Israel and other countries. Not much publicity is not given to these deals, since they are connected with defence. Any government in the world will like defence equipment manufactured in their own countries due to the security concern. The position of India can not be otherwise.

But what is happening in India is curious. Defence equipment were being manufactured in the Defence Factories. These are being reduced. MNCs are private companies are allowed to produce them in the Special Economic Zones where many labour and tax conditions are waived or reduced. But now the government is going much more in support of the private capital to maximise their profit. It is proposing to increase the FDI in this sector which at present is 26%. While the Arvind Mayaram Committee which looked in the matter has recommended increase to 49%, the Commerce Minister Anand Sharma is battling for more, at least to 74%. A lobby in the government is trying to make it 100%.

IN the present situation when increasing the FDI in every sector is one of the most important policy of the government to please the imperialist countries headed by US and the MNCs, anything can happen! FDI seems to be more important than defence and security of the country.