DESI DEFENCE PRODUCTION TO BORDER ROADS: DETAILED DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT

by Editorial

HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED (HAL)

Business done by HAL in last ten years is as under:

Rs. In Crore

ASHISH SINGH

NEW DELHI

As part of the recommendations of the Sectoral Group of Secretaries-10 (SGoS-10), Department of Defence Production (DDP) has adopted a Vision and Action Plan 2019-2024 to enhance self-reliance and technologies, leveraging ‘Make in India’ and maximize the untapped employment and economic potential of the defence sector. The details of action taken by the government are:

• The government is focusing on development of suitable human resource pool to support indigenisation of the science intensive industry like special technology universities and special departments within existing universities.

• The R&D Infrastructure Schemes such as Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institutes (SATHI) and Promotion of University Research in Scientific Excellence (PURSE) are open to start ups and manufacturing industries along with the researchers/scientists of academic organisations including development of suitable human resource pool to support indigenisation of the science intensive industry like special technology universities and special departments within existing universities.

• Under the SATHI scheme, dedicated manpower will be made available to help with the data collection, interpretation and dissemination of the information. The aims of this scheme are: (a) procurement and maintenance of high-end equipment and infrastructure facility necessary for research/testing/ manufacturing/fabrication to cater to the demands of researchers, scientists, students, start-ups, manufacturing units, industries and R&D Labs; (b) Providing access and sharing of scientific equipment and infrastructure; (c) Capacity Building of operators and technicians for efficient operations and interpretations of results/outcome; and (d) Monitoring of usage of expensive scientific research infrastructure for maximum utilization of Infrastructure Management with efficient operations and to be a part of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (Self Reliant India Campaign). Currently, three SATHI Centres have been established at IIT Delhi, BHU Varanasi and IIT Kharagpur.

• The PURSE program is an on-going scheme exclusively for the University Sector being implemented by R&D Infrastructure Division of Department of Science & Technology since 2009. This programme has broadened and created excellence in the R&D base around the performing universities in India. The synergy and focus of research under this scheme may preferably be aligned to National Missions/priorities. The broad objective in each case is to support potentially high impact, interdisciplinary research (both basic and applied) aligned to National Priorities/Missions. Currently, 54 universities have been identified for support under the PURSE programme.

• In addition, Department of Defence Production through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework aims to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia. iDEX has forged strategic partnerships with premier institutions of the country such as IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, T-Hub, IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, IIM Ahmedabad, Forge Coimbatore and Maker Village, Kerala. These Partner Incubators help discover, explore and support startups/MSMEs and develop human resource pool to support indigenization of the science intensive industry.

This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Dr Arvind Kumar Sharma in the Lok Sabha.

ECHS

Unmarried daughter of a retired Defence Officer is entitled to ECHS facilities as a dependent irrespective of age subject to the condition that she is not earning more than Rs.9000/- per month excluding DA. On the demise of the Defence Officer while his spouse is entitled to family pension, the daughter continues to avail the same facility subject of the aforesaid condition. In case of demise of both parents, unmarried daughter is entitled to Family Pension and also ECHS membership. An unmarried daughter of a retired defence officer can apply ECHS card after death of the parents under the following conditions:

• She is/was a dependent.

• Not earning more than Rs 9,000 per month excluding DA.

This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Sridhar Kotagiri in the Lok Sabha.

SAINIK SCHOOL IN UJJAIN

Government is proposing to bring a new scheme for setting up Sainik Schools in the country in partnership with NGOs/Private Schools/States etc. The endeavour is to provide schooling opportunities in “CBSE Plus” type of educational environment by involving desirous Government/Private Schools/NGOs to partner in establishing/aligning their system with Sainik Schools ethos, value system and national pride. It envisages enrolling existing/upcoming schools to be run on the lines of Sainik Schools curriculum. The schools are proposed to be affiliated to Sainik Schools Society. Detailed guidelines and requisite approvals are at an advance stage. This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Anil Firojiya in the Lok Sabha.

BORDER ROAD ORGANISATION

The fund approved by the Government regarding maintenance of roads by BRO in various States/Union Territories of the country during the last two years is as follows:

The Guidelines for maintenance of roads by BRO are as under:

(i) Once the road is completed regular maintenance is required to be undertaken by BRO for the preservation of assets, optimal utilisation and traffic safety. Some of the activities undertaken as per the maintenance guidelines are given below:

• Regular/Routine Maintenance: It consists of repair of Pot holes, jungle clearance, drain clearance, clearance of cross drainage, repair of Parapet walls, retaining walls and Breast wall, Berm filling and slide clearance to keep the road open for traffic.

• Special Repair: This repair includes restoration of damages to road formation and damage of cross drainage works. The special repairs are undertaken after obtaining sanction of the works whenever/whatever required.

• Emergent Repairs: This repair include works undertaken to restore the line of communication disrupted due to natural calamities and to prevent loss/damage to Public property.

• Renewal of Surfacing: This is done periodically based on the guidelines issued on life cycle and specifications for renewal of surface course.

(ii) Border Road Organisation is working on 272 Numbers of road Projects for a length 14071.54 Km to provide better road connectivity in border areas of the country including Rajasthan. State-wise details of these 272 roads are as under:

The list of defence equipment manufactured by HAL is given below:

1. Fighters:

• Su-30MKI

• Light Combat Aircraft LCA

• MiG-21/Bison

• Jaguar

2. Trainers:

• Kiran MK I/II

• Hawk

3. Transport Aircraft:

• Do-228

• HS-748

4. Helicopters:

• Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)

• Chetak

• Cheetah

• Cheetal

HAL is also manufacturing Engines, Communication equipment, Navigation equipment, Display systems, Hydraulic systems, Electric equipment etc., required for aircraft/helicopters. Currently, out of the total airborne fleet in use by Indian Defence Services, HAL has supplied about 61% and is supporting 75% of all the aircrafts/helicopters. This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Shyam Singh Yadav in the Lok Sabha.

MILITARY HOSPITALS

In order to improve the infrastructure of various Military Hospitals across the country, works for renovation, addition or construction are carried out under Annual Major Works Programme (AMWP), regularly. Regular repair, renovation and upgradation of facilities and infrastructure of hospitals to improve the healthcare services and functional efficiency of hospitals is undertaken through the projection of Low Budgeted Works, Special Repairs, Revenue Works and emergent requirements as per Para 35 of Defence Works Procedure, 2007. Funds are allocated by the Command and formation Headquarters for renovation and modernization in each Financial Year. This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Ramapati Ram Tripathi in Lok Sabha.

INDUCTION OF NEW WEAPONS IN ARMED FORCES

The induction of new aircraft, weapons, etc, into the Armed Forces is a continuous process. The details of important recent inductions in this regard are as under:

Indian Army:

(i) Cheetal Helicopters.

(ii) Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mark 0/I/II/III.

(iii) ALH (Weapon System Integrated [WSI]).

(iv) 20 mm Turret Gun – Integrated with ALH (WSI) platform.

(v) 70 mm Turret Gun – Integrated with ALH (WSI) platform.

Indian Navy:

(i) Dornier 228 aircraft

(ii) Advance Light Helicopters (ALH MK III)

(iii) Chetak Helicopters

(iv) P81 aircraft

Indian Air Force:

(i) Rafale aircraft

(ii) Light Combat Aircraft

(iii) C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft

(iv) Chinook and Apache Helicopters

The Government is committed to boost “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” scheme by inducting LCH and LUH helicopters in the armed forces. So far, till February 2021, the Government has issued 523 Industrial licenses for manufacturing of various items in defence sector. This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Prathap Simha and L.S. Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha.

This information was tabled in a written reply by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik to a question asked by Nihal Chand in the Lok Sabha.

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