Move to outsource troop items draws flak

CHENNAI: The bypassing of Ordnance Factory Board in procuring 93 troop comfort items, including 77 items for the Indian Air Force and 16 for the Indian Navy by the Defence Ministry, has sparked a protest from various defence employees associations.

All India Defence Employees’ Federation general secretary C Srikumar has urged Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman to reconsider the decision and alleged that it was taken without consulting stakeholders - employees and organisation.

The Defence Ministry on November 20 said that to improve the operational efficiency of expenditure, it has dispensed with the requirement of a no-objection certificate from the Ordnance Factory Board.
“The OFB will cease to get orders on nomination basis. The OFB is free to wind up or put to alternate use the production facilities of these items in the absence of order,” the Defence Ministry has stated.
Srikumar said that by implementing the decision, ordnance factories and staff would be in deep trouble.

“The employees of factories, including large number of women will face uncertainty,” he added.
“Allowing armed forces to purchase troop comfort items from private sources will compromise the quality of items and the ultimate victim will be our soldiers,” he said.