GREETINGS

WISH YOU A HAPPY & PROSPOROUS NEW YEAR.
WORK AS IF ON EACH OF YOU DEPENDED THE WHOLE WORK.FIFTY CENTURIES ARE LOOKINF ON YOU; THE FUTURE OF INDIA DEPENDS ON YOU.-Swami Vivekenanda.                  
M.S.HARI/ convenor,Save Ordnance Factories.

Nalalnda Ordnance Factory

Ordnance Factory at Nalanda

Action for setting up of ordnance factory at Nalanda in Bihar is underway.Commissioning of Nitro Cellulose Plant (NC) and erection of Sulphuric Acid Concentration / Nitric Acid Concentration Plant (SAC/NAC) are under progress. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is also planning for procurement of sub-plants for main Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) plant on its own. As per signed contract with M/s IMI, Israel, the target date for commissioning of the main Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) plant was September 2011. However, CBI investigations had started in May 2009 against M/s Israeli Military Industries (IMI) and others due to vendors' misconduct relating to illegal gratification. M/s IMI has been debarred from doing any further business dealings with Ministry of Defence for a period of ten years. Certain advances paid to the firm have been recovered and some Bank Guarantees submitted by the * vendor have been forfeited as per contract & rules in force. This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh in a written reply to Shri Hukumdev Narayan Yadav in Lok Sabha today

ordnance factories

Ordnance Factory

Modernisation of OFB is a continuous process based on User's requirement, technological upgradation and available resources. In the 11th plan an investment of Rs.2953/- crores has been made on modernisation and capacity augmentation of different Ordnance Factories. Modernisation has been carried out in Ordnance Factory Khamaria at Jabalpur involving an investment of Rs.33.18 crores in the11th Plan. This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh in a written reply to Shri Rakesh Singh in Lok Sabha today.

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Govt.Spends

Govt to spend Rs 6 lakh crore on defence equipment buys

 

Kolkata, Dec 20: 

The defence equipment industry will see substantial growth as the Union Government is planning to spend nearly Rs 6 lakh crore to procure equipment over the next 15 years.

Addressing a defence seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Thursday, Rear Admiral A. K. Verma (Retd), CMD, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), said, “The defence equipment industry in India will see a business worth Rs 6 lakh crore in the next 15 years. Of this, about 70 per cent is going indigenised (localised). It’s time for the private players to stand up.” Verma is also the chairman of the Defence Task Force, CII Eastern Region. According to him, the small-scale industries involved in the defence ancillary industry would also benefit from this increased procurement.

Eastern region

Commenting on GRSE’s growth opportunities, Verma said the defence PSU is eyeing orders worth Rs 30,000 crore over the next ten years.

Stating that the eastern region and West Bengal, in particular, has a strong presence of small and medium industries, Verma said the SME sector in West Bengal alone can fetch Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 crore of the estimated spending over the next 15 years.

For example, he said, many such small industries are involved in cabling and plumbing works at the shipbuilding units of GRSE.

Himansu Sekhar Chaudhury, Member, Material and Components , Ordnance Factory Board, pointed out that more than 4,000 SMEs are engaged in supplying metal, clothes, leather and various semi-finished products to ordnance factories in the State.

West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, who was present on the occasion, said the micro and small industries in the State should tap the defence equipment market .

Industry in Bengal

Meanwhile, Chatterjee reiterated that the State Government was not against any group, but against “forced land acquisition.”

Declining to comment on the Singur issue pertaining to the Tata Group, he welcomed Tata Consultancy Services’ announcement to invest Rs 1,350 crore at a software development campus in the State.

CAG Audit Report Exposes OF & Land allotments

• Ar | North | South | Northeast/ 

CAG nails Army: Audit report exposes ordnance factory and land allotment scams causing Rs.1277 crore los .

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The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has unearthed irregularities and inefficiencies mainly in the Army's ordnance factories that have cost the national exchequer an estimated Rs.1,277 crore and led to huge gaps in the country's war preparedness.
Apart from this there was a huge loss due to diversion and misuse of prime cantonment land to private builders in cities such as Pune, Kandivili, Panchmarhi and Barrackpore. The CAG has also chastised the Indian Navy and the Air Force for inefficiencies and wastage in several of their projects.

While the armed forces have been pulled up for decision deficiencies resulting in losses, the defence ministry has not been spared either by the CAG "for gross mismanagement of land under its possession."

There is striking similarity with the Adarsh housing society scam in Kandivili where 5,166 sq metres belonging to the Central Ordnance Depot ,which was in possession of the army since 1942, was given to a private company for residential purposes on the basis of an irregular no-objection certificate issued by the Defence Estates Officer, Mumbai.

The CAG has pointed out that unauthorised construction and running of 36 hotels on old grant sites at Panchmarhi was not prevented by the Defence Estates Service.

Similar cases were reported from Barrackpore cantonment where two old grant sites were misused as restaurants and shops despite a shortage of land for military use.

Perhaps a more damaging revelation relates to tank ammunition. Even as the army has been complaining about the shortage of ammunition, the CAG has pointed out that more than 1,00,000 rounds of tank ammunition designed indigenously were declared unserviceable without proper verification.

The value of this wasted ammunition was pegged at Rs.408.06 crore. The wastage was detected by auditors in 2010 in the Southern Command which is headquartered in Pune.
The report noted that out of 3,50,000 rounds of ammunition worth Rs.1,400 crore produced by the Ordnance Factory Board, 1,34,608 rounds were unserviceable.

A major chunk of these - 1,02,014 rounds had not even completed a shelf life of 10 years.

This compelled the defence ministry to import 16,000 rounds of ammunition worth Rs.278.88 crore from Russia earlier this year.

In another instance pointed out by the CAG, the Defence Research and Development Organisation had developed a modular charge system for 105 mm and 130 mm artillery guns.

But by the time the project was completed, the army was not interested in the technology which led to wastage of `13.48 crore that had been spent in developing a modular charge system for field guns.

Poor soil investigationand bad engineering by the Military Engineering Service Engineers led to the construction of sub-standard bunkers meant for the storage of ammunition.

The bunkers were constructed for Rs.7.61 crore and have remained defective even after three years.

The ministry has admitted that some of the structures actually collapsed.

Radar Warning Receivers are used by combat aircraft to warn them that enemy radar has "illuminated" them. The CAG has pointed out a serious deficiency in an Air Force project where it failed to install radar warning receiver systems in most of its fighter aircraft fleet.

The IAF had sought to equip its entire fleet of combat jets with RWRs but the CAG has revealed that the project has come a cropper even after a spending Rs.521 crore.

The IAF ordered 336 RWR systems from Bharat Electronics Limited in 2005. A major chunk of these- 94 per cent- were supplied in 2007, well before the delivery deadline of 2010.

But the CAG noted that till April this year, only 73 out of these 336 systems had been installed. There is also a dispute between the defence ministry and the CAG over performance of these radars.

The IAF had claimed that these RWRs had not performed satisfactorily, but the defence ministry, in its reply, claimed it was a proven and totally reliable system with an exceeding 80 per cent.

The CAG report said it does not agree with the defence ministry's observation as the performance of 69 out of 73 RWRs integrated to date with IAF aircraft were not up to the mark.

The Navy and the Coast Guard have not been spared by the CAG either.

In one instance it has said that operations of Navy submarines were affected because of delays in commissioning of "a crucial system onboard." This led to a loss of Rs.167.64 crore

Ordnance Factory Dehu Road Blast

 

 

 

Four workers injured in Dehu Rd ordnance factory blast

One worker loses right hand; cops to investigate further

 

 

 

 

Posted On Wednesday, December 05, 2012 at 08:59:32 AM

Relatives of the workers at Ruby Hall on Tuesday Four workers were seriously injured in a blast at the Dehu Road Ordnance Factory on Tuesday. The blast took place at the Production Section (Unit 1) inside the factory around 10.40 am. The injured have been identified as B T Sonje (56), a resident of Kalewadi, Harishchandra Padale (52), a resident of Sus Road, Mhalunge, M S Shirsagar (58) a resident of Adarsh Nagar, Diwale and Nandu Ambulkar (55) who live in Akurdi. All of them were later taken to Ruby Hall Clinic. R S Choudhary, a spokesperson at the factory, said, “All the four workers were immediately taken to hospital. Sonje injured his right hand badly, while Shirsagar sustained 5 per cent burns. We have appointed a committee to look into the incident and find out the reason behind the blast.” Dehu Road police also arrived at the factory after the blast to conduct an investigation. The injured workers were in the production section of the factory According to sources at Ruby Hall, Sonje’s right hand had to been amputated and he is now in the Neo Troma Unit Ward whereas rest of the workers are being treated in the general ward, for minor injuries. A similar blast had taken place on November 26 this year at the same factory, in which worker Bunty Shrivastav lost the fingers of his right hand. He was working in Unit 3. Police inspector Ram Jadhav of Dehu Road police station told Mirror, “After our investigation, we found that the four workers who were injured were mixing explosive powder. The blast took place during the mixing. We are now checking for the exact reason behind the blast, which will be revealed in further investigations

Dumping of indiginious INSAS Rifles

NEW DELHI: The Army is getting ready to dump its indigenous INSAS rifles, which have suffered from glitches since their induction in 1994-95, in favour of new-generation assault rifles with interchangeable barrels for conventional warfare and counter-insurgency operations.

The humble foot-soldiers, often forgotten in the race to buy tanks, submarines and fighters, are also slated to get new close-quarter battle (CBQ) carbines, light machine guns (LMGs), specialized sniper rifles and anti-material "bunker-bursting" rifles.

However, Army chief General Bikram Singh has identified the acquisition of the new assault rifles for the 356 infantry battalions and some other "fighting and support arms" in the 1.13-million force as a "Priority-I" project, say sources.

Defence minister AK Antony told Rajya the Sabha on Wednesday that the project to replace the 5.56mm INSAS rifles was underway since "technological development has created more superior rifles over the years".

Sources say five foreign firms — Colt, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Ceska and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) — are in the running to partner the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in bagging the huge project that would eventually cost over Rs 10,000 crore.

Under it, initially 65,000 rifles will be bought directly from the selected foreign vendor, for an estimated Rs 4,850 crore, to equip the 120 infantry battalions deployed on the western and eastern fronts.

The OFB will subsequently produce over 113,000 rifles after getting transfer of technology (ToT) from the vendor. The project could become even bigger if the eight-lakh-strong paramilitary forces also induct these rifles.

"Technical evaluation of bids submitted by the five firms is over. The field evaluation trials will begin in early-2013. The plan is to begin inducting the new rifles by mid-2014," said a source.

The new rifles, weighing around 3.5-kg, will come with two barrels, apart from night-vision devices, laser designators, detachable under-barrel grenade launchers and the like.

The primary 5.56x45mm barrel will be for conventional warfare. The secondary 7.62x39mm one will be used for counter-insurgency operations due to "their higher rate of fire".

INSAS (Indian small arms system) rifles, weighing over 4.25-kg and with an effective range of just 450-metre, had replaced the earlier cumbersome 7.62mm self-loading rifles but they too have now become virtually obsolete. The Army had also been forced to import one lakh AK-47s, apart from using the ones seized in encounters, for counter-insurgency operations in J&K and the north-east.

The other procurement project already underway involves an initial purchase of 44,000 CQB carbines for around Rs 3,200 crore, with subsequent production of another 1,20,000 by OFB under ToT. "User trials of Beretta, Colt, Sig Sauer and IWI carbines are over now. The induction should begin by early-2014," said the source.

The process for LMGs and bipod sniper rifles will also kick off soon. The Army wants over 16,000 7.62x51mm LMGs and 3,500 sniper rifles, both with an effective 1-km range, for its infantry battalions to begin with. "The aim is to get light-weight weapons with more lethality and range," added the source.

Jabalpur CAT case

 

Fixation case by NDNGSA at CAT Jabalpur.

The date of hearing of the court case filed at CAT Jabalpur by NDNGSA for fixation of CM with minimum basic of Rs. 6500 X 1.86 and that of JWM from Rs. 7450 X 1.86 w.e.f. 01/01/2006 was 21 Nov 2012. The rejoinder from NDNGSA side on replies submitted by respondents was filed on 21/11/12.

The date for argument was slated on 15/02/2013

7th pay commission's Need

RATIONALE BEHIND DEMAND FOR 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION

Due to no response from the Central Govt. to the proposal for a fruitful discussion on a 15-point charter of demands which includes revision of wages from January 01, 2011 by setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission(CPC) and Merger of 50% DA with Pay submitted to the Prime Minister   by the  Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers on July 26, the latter has  warned of a one-day’s all India strike on December 12.

The Confederation’s affiliated federations/unions/associations are organizing a country wide campaign to make the agitation a success. In this context, it is quite relevant to discuss the justification of formation of 7th CPC .

Emphasizing on the idea of “living wages” to the employees, the First Pay Commission was constituted in May, 1946 under the chairmanship of Srinivasa Varadachariar. The commission basically recommended that the lowest rung employee should at least get minimum wages. The Second Pay Commission set up in August ,1957 under the chairmanship of  Shri Jagannath Das  recommended that the pay structure and the working conditions of the government employee should be crafted in a way so as to ensure efficient functioning of the system by recruiting persons with a minimum qualification. Under the chairmanship of Raghubir Dayal, the Third Pay Commission set up in April 1970 gave its report in March 1973 adding three very important concepts of inclusiveness, comprehensibility and adequacy for pay structure and going beyond the idea of minimum subsistence. Constituted in June 1983, the Fourth Pay Commission submitted its report in three phases within four years under the chairmanship of P N Singhal. The Fifth Pay Commission was set up in 1994 under the chairmanship of  Justice S. Ratnavel Pandian recommended  to slash government work force by about 30% and   not to fill about 3,50,000 vacant position in the government departments which could not be implemented due to serious protest by the Confederation.

In July 2006, the Cabinet approved setting up of the Sixth Pay Commission which was set up under the chairmanship of Justice B N Srikrishna which submitted its recommendations to the Govt. on March 23, 2008.  The existing wage structure revised by 6th  CPC and implemented from January 1, 2006 is not only  anomalous but also totally irrational and inadequate. It is anomalous because by giving a system of Pay Band and Grade Pay, it restricted the pay scales to 20 under four Pay Bands ( PB-1, PB-2, PB-3 & PB-4).  There is no scientific determination of fitment benefit.  For one, who is at the minimum or lower stage will get a higher benefit and one who is at the higher stage in the pre-revised pay scale will get lesser benefit. The existing wage structure is also irrational because it is not based upon any principle of wage determination like need based minimum norms or fair comparison with outside rates which is universally applicable in all the other countries of the world. The wage structure given by 6th  CPC has totally smashed the existing relativities. The lowest minimum wage has not been fixed for unskilled worker. It has been fixed at the level of skilled worker, who is a matriculate. Such a wage structure is not acceptable to the people of India because a large number of rural youth who do not acquire the matriculation are languishing in the employment market. The existing relativity between unskilled and skilled worker was 50%. But the recommendations of 6th CPC reduced  it to 20%. General recommendation regarding Pay Band is that it should be 1.86 multiple of the existing pre-revised minimum so that it represents the existing Pay and Allowances as admissible on January 1, 2006. The Central Government  however, has given higher multiple of three times of pre-revised minimum in PB 4 without offering any explanation for this unrelated increase. The demand of the employees that at least 2.625 times of the existing wages may be uniformly provided, if not three times, which has not been accepted by the Government.  The 5th CPC has revised the entire wage structure by applying a common multiple of 3.25. Such a common multiplying factor has not been provided by the 6th CPC. Therefore, it has recommended a wage structure which gives inflated benefit to Group A Officer and very reduced and inadequate benefit to the rest of the employees.

Another important aspect of pay revision is  the merger of DA as Dearness Pay. Way back in 1962, when the 2nd  CPC had not given any formula for DA and the Government had imposed a very retrograde D A formula  by not providing 100% neutralization, the Confederation has raised a demand for indexing of the wages annually as is being done in other countries like Great Britain.  The Gadgil Committee appointed by the Government recommended for the merger of total  D A with Pay for the purposes of pension. The Third CPC, then had recommended that as soon as the Cost of living Index crosses 272 points, the DA then admissible should be merged with pay for the purpose of pension.

Later on, the employees’ organizations further negotiated and obtained merger of DA up to 320 points, not only for the purpose of Pension but also, for the purpose of Pay and Allowances.

The next merger of DA up to 468 points (148% of D A ) was done by Government before appointing the 4th  CPC. Employees Organizations then demanded that the system of merger should be regulated and should happen automatically as and when the DA increased by 50%. The Government  then negotiated a settlement by merging 20% DA and referring the rest of DA merger to the 5th  CPC and conceding all other demands. The 5th  CPC merged 98% DA which was then admissible and recommended that as and when the DA increase of 50% takes place, it should be merged with the Pay. Thus, the Central Govt. employees achieved a well regulated merger of DA with pay as and when it is increased by 50%. But, the 6th CPC has undone this achievement. Therefore,   continuation of the system of merger which has been recommended by the 5th  CPC and accepted by the Government should continue.

The most important reason to demand for appointing 7th CPC effective from January 1, 2011 is that while the wage revision in all the Public Sector Undertakings and in other Sectors usually takes place every 5th year, the same for the Central Govt. employees has been fixed for 10 years which is unconstitutional. The next revision in the Public Sector Undertakings is due from January 1, 2012, the last being with effect from January 1, 2007. Thus, question arises as to why should Central Government employees have to wait for a longer period of 10 years before the next revision becomes due? It is on this consideration that the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has demanded the setting up of 7th  Central Pay Commission immediately to revise the wage structure 

MADRAS CAT ORDER

MADRAS CAT ORDER

MADRAS CAT ORDER

HOWITZER GUN TRIALS

Howitzer guns will soon be ready for army trials

 

Two types of indigenously-manufactured Howitzer guns for the Indian Army [ Images ] will be ready for trials by December this year and by June 2013, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

In a written reply to the House, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "As per the Defence Acquisition Council decision of October 2011, Ordnance Factory Board is to manufacture 155mm Howitzers."

The OFBs have been asked to manufacture "two prototypes of 155mm/39 calibre FH-77-B02 guns" and the "upgraded version of 155 mm/45 calibre Howitzers guns", he said.

On timelines for trials of these indigenous guns, Antony said that the two prototypes of 155mm/39 calibre Howitzers will be ready by December 2012, followed by two samples of the upgraded 155mm/45 calibre guns by June 2013.

On Transfer of Technology with the Swedish firm which supplied the 155mm/39 calibre Bofors guns, Antony said, "India had entered into license agreement with A B Bofors, Sweden for indigenous manufacture of 155mm/39 calibre FH-77-B02 guns and its ammunition."

Replying to a question on the on-going probe in procurement of 12 VVIP helicopters, the ,inister denied that the Enforcement Directorate has been asked to look into the allegations of kickback by the vendors.

On complaints of embezzlement against cantonment board officials, Antony said, "A complaint dated Feb 2012 regarding embezzlement of fund concerning EPF/ESI and service tax of workers engaged through outsourcing by the officials of Delhi [ Images ] cantonment board has been received."

The matter is under examination in the directorate general of defence estates, he told the House.

Feedback of MACP Joint Committee meeting held on 27.7.2012 - NFIR

Meeting of the Joint Committee on MACPs Anomalies

As decided in the National Anomaly Committee Meeting held on 17/07/2012, the DOPT held separate meeting with the Leaders of Staff Side at North Block, New Delhi, Room No. 190 on 27/07/2012. Shri.M.Raghavaiah, General Secretary, NFIR has participated in the meeting.

Discussions were held on following issues:-

1. Grant of MACP in the promotional hierarchy :-

The staff side insisted that option be given to individual employees in this regard to facilitate  him/her to opt for availing benefit of financial upgradation.

After discussion it was agreed to examine in depth for finding solution.

2. Date of effect of MACP Scheme :

The desirability of giving effect to the MACP Scheme w.e. f. 01.01.2006 will be examined.

3. Counting of total temporary status Casual Labour Service reckoning 10/20/30 years under MACP Scheme:

Official Side stated that this will be processed separately.

4. Treatment of employees selected under LDCE/GDCE Scheme:

In the light of the instructions issued when the ACP Scheme was introduced. The same policy be adopted and accordingly orders will be issued. In other words, those inducted through LDCE/GDCE Scheme, such induction may be counted as appointment and will be reckoned as promotion.

5. Problems faced in the identical Grade Pay:

It was agreed to issue instructions for granting additional increment for fixation of Pay in case of promotion to the same Grade Pay. Instructions in this regard will be issued to Ministry of Railways etc .

6. Financial Upgradation Under MACPs, in the case of staff who joined another unit/organisation on request:

The Staff Side has pointed out that OM dated 01/11/2010 should be suitably Amended covering the staff who were transferred on request on reversion to the Unit/Organisation so that the total service rendered in the previous Unit/Organisation may be counted for MACPs. It  was agreed to be considered.

7. Extension of benefit of MACPS to an employee appointed in Grade where direct  recruitment element is there while ignoring service and promotion rendered prior to his appointment in that post:

Official Side reiterated that suitable clarification No. 5 of OM dated 09/09/2012 was already issued.

8. Stepping up of Pay of Senior incumbents at par with Junior incumbents as a consequence of  ACP/MACPs :

Staff Side has explained the case of gross injustice done, more particularly in the Accounts Department of India” Railways wherein the incumbents who cleared the Appendix examination are drawing less pay than those who could not qualify the said examination and got the benefit of MACPs. The staff side insisted that this situation is leading to de-motivation among qualified staff and urged for rectifying the anomalies. It was agreed to consider and Ministry of Railways advised to send the proposal

9. Employees who got one promotion prior to 01/09/2008 and completed over two decades of service without benefit of promotion and are denied third ACP under MACPs:

After discussion, official side agreed that is a peculiar situation and assured to take action to rectify the situation. The staff side has insisted that in such cases third ACP should be straight away given to staff from the date subsequent to the date of completion of two decades of service after promotion. Official side appreciated the logic and reasonableness and agreed to considered.

Official Side apPft’Cialcd the logic and reawnablencss and agreed to consider.

10. Modification of recruitment rules particularly in Railways and upgradation granted by abolition of Pay Scale-Implementation of MACPs :

The Staff Side explained that in the Railways the lower Pay Scales were abolished and posts were upgraded to the higher Pay Scales with revision of recruitment qualification and designation. In such cases the staff side insisted that entry Grade Pay as a result of upgradation subsequent to abolition of lower Pay Scales should be taken into consideration for reckoning 10/20/30 years of service for granting MACP.

Official side has agreed to obtain detials from Ministry of Railways for issuing appropriate clarification. In the meanwhile, Railway Board will have discussion with the Staff Side separately so that appropritate proposal could be sent to the DoP&T.

11. Placement of staff as a result of upgradation of posts :

The Staff side (NFIR) insisted that such placements should not be considered as promotion for the purpose of grant of financial upgradation under MACP Scheme. 

Official side stated that this will be examined.

12. In the course of discussion the Official Side also stated that MACP Scheme should be a fall-back option and the Ministries should conduct Cadre Restructuring for ensuring that the staff could be promoted within the reasonable time i.e. within 10 years. When the Staff Side pointed out that the Ministry of Railways is citing the instructions of Ministry of Finance issued some years back that only one third of the Cadre could be disturbed, for revising the percentages, the Official Side clarified that necessary clarificatory instructions will be issued to the Ministry of Railways etc., so that the Cadre Restructuring can be done without problems.

 

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Reservations for SC/ST in Ordnance Factories

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Defence 

22-August-2012 13:26 IST

Reservations for SC/ST in Ordnance Factory Board

The provisions for giving reservation in employment and promotion to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes employees in Ordnance Factory Board are applied to all posts Gazetted/Non-Gazetted/Non-lndustrial Employees/Industrial Employees, as per instructions/rules of Department of Personnel and Training. For Group 'A' officers the reservation is applied only up to lowest rung in recruitment only.


Vacancies arising on year to year basis are filled up. Sometime due to non-availability of a few candidates some SC/ST backlog vacancies remain unfilled for sometime. This is regularly reviewed by Ordnance Factory Board/Ministry of Defence.

This information was given by Ministry of State for Defence Shri MM PallamRaju in a written reply to Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste in Rajya Sabha today.

Bofore Guns Trails at OFB

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will conduct trials of upgraded Bofors guns in January 2013 aiming to bridge the near 25-year void of the Indian Army's requirement of artillery guns."Today OFB is in a position to offer not only the Bofors gun but even the upgraded version of Bofors gun," Director General Ordnance Factory (DGOF) and Chairman OFB, Sashi Dhar Dimri said on the sidelines of the 210th...

2-3-2012 JCM III OFB meeting decisions.

JCM III level meeting of OFBoard Council (11th term 11th ordinary meeting) held on 01-03-2012 and 02-03-2012  at OFB Head Quarters on 01-3-2012, preliniminary meeting was chaired by Member/Personnel and on 02-3-2012 the main meeting was chaired by DGOF/Chairman, OF Board.

Important decision taken, and implemented by OF Board are as follows,

1. For the newly directly recruited IES have been sent for one month induction training to be conducted by factory training schools. The scheme has been started.

2. To develop skills for the locals and to impart training skill development training program was inaugurated at NADP, Ambajhari on 13-02-2012 by Rajya Raksha Mantri.

3. For recruitment of all Group ’C’ posts (IES/NIES) a Central Recruitment Board for Ordnance Fys has been established having office at Ordnance Factory Estate, Ambajhari which will conduct recruitment process from 01-04-2012 centrally.

4. 2172 posts for IEs have been released by OFB for all Ord. Fys, 388 Labourer-SSK post are released for A&E Group of Fys. Labourer posts for other Divisions will also be considered based on their functional requirements and after receiving the proposals.

5. MACP for JWMs promoted prior to 31.12.2005 to the grade pay of Rs.5400/- has been cleared on 02.03.2012.

6. Granting of 30 days EL and Departmental Overtime (DOT) for piece workers will be settled by Chairman/OFB in consultation with Defence Finance and Ministry of Labour and Employment at the earliest.

7. Boiler Attendants in SSK grade will be promoted to skilled grade without Boiler certificate.

8. Rs.12391 crores out put for the year 2011-12 is likely be achieved which is around 40% increase.

9. During the 5 year plan, which is coming to an end supply was made by Ord. Fys. Rs.46000 crores to Army. Now the demand from M of D during the 12th 5 years plan is around Rs.92000 crores which is almost double which has to be met by Ord. Fys.

10. Roll on indent was granted for 5 years by the Ministry to OFB in all the products. No restrictions for buying new plants, modernization of Fys, manpower and financial grants etc.

11. To increase the capacity of Ord. Fys, 3 sick PSUs with all its infrastructure is likely to be taken over by Ord. Fys Board. These plants are in Naini, Hydrabad and West Bengal.

12. Regarding conducting of LDCE examination for the employees to appoint against 25% Quota, due to pending finalisation of the courses / certificates issued by certain institutions, pending finalization, the Exam dates are likely to be postponed to April 2012.

13. Direct – Indirect Ratio of IEs will be reviewed in order to strengthen the maintenance and Quality Control activities is Ord. Fys. Necessary directives will be given to Fys to induct manpower in there areas also.

14. Pay slips which are newly designed by PC of Fys will be given in the month of May for the salary of April month mentioning all the details of payments and Recoveries.

15. Co-Relation of piece work on 6th CPC. The report of the sub-committee was sent to three federations. After receiving their views, OFB will discuss with federations and a consensus proposal will be sent to M of Defence for obtaining final orders.

16. Issues Related to 4 grade structure implementation.

Many factories have not yet completed the process of implementation of 4 grade structure. It was demanded that a time bound action from OFB should be fixed and the same should be monitored for expediting the same. Further, PC of Fys should allow the option to choose the Revised pay after 1.1.2006 on the date of promotion to next higher grade. Exemption of Trade test to fill the resultant vacancies be given, so that back date effect can be given for the promotion granted at a later date. It was agreed by OF Board to monitor the progress of implementation and clarifications required will be completed by April 2012.

17. It was demanded that all the employees appointed in USK grade (Labourer, Erstwhile Group D) all have been up graded to SSK grade Rs.1800/- GP w.e.f 1.1.2006 and therefore their earlier ACPs granted should be ignored and they should be granted ACP on completion of 12/24 years up to 31.08.2008 and after 01.09.2008, if completed 30 years they should be granted III MACP.

18. All MCMs placed before 31.12.2011 were granted upgraded to Rs.4200/- GP. Therefore this is not to be counted ACP and only got one ACP. They should be granted IInd and III ACP ie Rs.4600/- and Rs.4800/-.Since they hot only one ACP to Rs.4000-6000.

19. Uniforms though were approved by the federations with OFB it was demanded that Dress Material as per specifications should be procured centrally and Fys should be given responsibilities to stitch and distribute the dresses at the earliest.

Cadre restructuring of Storekeepers at OFB

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA  MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  ORDNANCE FACTORY BOARD  10-A, SHAHEED KHUDIRAM BOSE ROAD  KOLKATA – 700001 Sub: Cadre restructuring of Store Keeping Staff in Ordnance Factories Organisation. ****** After the implementation of the VIth CPC by the Govt. of India, there is a growing demand from staff side to review the Cadre of Store Keeping Staff in the Ordnance Factories Organisation. 2. Accordingly the issue has been examined with the following terms of reference. i) To examine the stagnation profile of existing Supervisor(Stores) and Store Keepers. ii) To examine any other issues related to the career progression brought out by the Indian Ordnance Factories Non-Technical Supervisory Staff Association. iii) To suggest a viable cadre structure proposed in the Non-Tech. (Stores) discipline for the Supervisors (Stores) and Store Keeper. 3. Consequent upon the implementation of the 6th CPC the cadre structure of Store Keeping Staff in the OF. Organisation is as follows :- Name of the Post Pay Band and Grade Pay Sanction Strength Residency period post 6th CPC Store Keeper PB-1 G.P. Rs.1900 1076 Nil being a DR Post Supervisor(Stores) PB-1 G.P. Rs.2400 827 8 Years Chargeman (Stores) PB-1 G.P. Rs.4200 725 10 Years JWM (Stores) PB-1 G.P. Rs.4600 317 5 Years 4. There is acute stagnation in the Store Keeping cadre. For promotion from Storekeeper to Chargeman (Stores) the residency period required is 18 years. About 394 employees are stagnating far from date of holding Store Keeper post. Relatively, stagnation amongst Supv(NT/S) is much more as compared to stagnation amongst Store Keepers. In Store Keeper post 9 years is 69 and for Supv. the said no. is 165. One of the main reasons for stagnation is reduction in the sanction strength of Chargeman (S) due to abolition of Posts during ADRP. 5. Also, the Cadre review of stores stream has not been undertaken for a long time. There is considerable stagnation at the level of Supv.(NT/S) as stated earlier. For Supv.(NT/S) with a strength of 827 posts there are about 363 promotional posts of CIM(S), which is another main reason for acute stagnation. 6. After implementation of the recommendation of the 5th CPC different intergrade ratios were prescribed for Technical and Non-Technical Supervisory Staff in the Ordnance Factories Organisation vide M of D letter No.44(1)/2002/III/D(Fy-ll) dt. 01.10.2002 (copy enclosed). For Non-Technical Supervisory Staff the ratio for JWM & CJM works out 30:70, where as for Technical Supervisory Staff i.e. JWM(T) and C/M(T) the ratio is 40:60, which also puts non-technical staff in a disadvantageous position as far as career prospects are concerned. 7. Considering all the above facts; the revised stature is proposed to be as follows. Post Proposed Strength Proposed Ratio JWM (Stores) 417 14 Chargeman (Stores) 894 30 Supervisor (Stores) 834 28 Stores Keeper 834 28 8. The financial implications of the cadre restructuring is as follows. Grade PB & G.P. in Rs. Mid point of the PB Plus G.P. in Rs. Present Sanction Strength Proposed Sanction Strength No. of posts proposed to be created or surrendered Financial implication per month Store Keeper PB-1, 5,200-20,200 G.P.1900/- 14600 1076 834 (-) 242 (-)242x14600 = (-) 3533200 Supervisor (S) PB-1, 5,200-20,200 G.P.2400/- 15100 827 834 (+)7 (+)7 x 15100 = (+) 105700 Chargeman (S) PB-2, 9,300-34,800 G.P.4200/- 26250 725 894 (+)169 (+)169x26250 =(+) 4436250 JWM (S) PB-2, 9,300-34,800 G.P.4600/- 26650 317 417 (+)100 (+)100x26650 =(+) 2665000 Total :- 2945 2979 (+)34 (+)100x26650=(+) 3673750 The financial implication per annum works out to Rs. 3673750 × 12=Rs.44085000/-. For matching saving, it is proposed to surrender 254 posts of Labourer in the pay band-i, Rs. 5,200- 20,200/- and G.P. Rs. 1800/-, (financial implication per annum for 254 posts of Labourer = 14500 x 254 x 12 = Rs. 44196000). This will result in savings of Rs. 111000/- per annum. 9. Ministry of Defence is requested to kindly approve the above proposal for cadre restructuring of Store Keeping Staff. (A.K.DAS)  JOINT DIRECTOR/NI  FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL, ORDNANCE FACTORIES

BEML - Tatra Trucks

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New Delhi: Probing the Tatra scam, CBI has claimed to have laid its hands on crucial records showing that BEML top brass had insisted on getting technology from Ravinder Rishi's firm that was already available with the PSU a decade back.
The records show that while renewing the contract with Rishi promoted Tatra Sipox UK in 2003, during the tenure of then CMD VRS Natarajan, BEML officials claimed that they had no option but to enter in agreement as only it had axle technology which was unique selling point of Tatra trucks, CBI sources said.
BEML officials claimed in their correspondence with Defence Minstry that Rishi had refused to supply anything related to the axle technology which leaves no option but to continue with supply agreement with his firm, they said.

BEML top brass had insisted on getting technology from Ravinder Rishi's firm that was already available with the PSU.

The sources claimed the technology that PSU was citing to be exclusively with Rishi's firm was apparently handed over by Tatra to BEML as part of technology transfer agreement with the PSU in 1986.
The CBI sources said probe revealed BEML had received most of the designs by 1991 including the axles, which give the Tatra Trucks ability to traverse difficult terrains, but still the officials kept saying that Rishi had refused to indigenise it.
The sources said BEML had renewed the contract in 2003, with Rishi's firm Tatra Sipox UK which was three years ahead of scheduled renewal.
The allegations of any wrongdoing had been refuted by Rishi as well as Natarajan saying no rules were violated.
Sources said probe has been able to prove beyond doubt that BEML officials were allegedly not telling the complete truth.
CBI sources said Tatra Sipox UK claimed to be representative of Slovakia based Tatra Sipox, which had the axle technology while the rest of the truck was manufactured by Czech republic based Tatra a.s.
They said surprisingly the Slovak manufacturer of axle did not have rights to use the brand name Tatra and the 1997 agreement of Tatra Sipox UK with BEML there was a clause that says the PSU could not use the brand name on its truck.
They said the probe has reveal several alleged irregularities in the supply of Tatra vehicles which include lack of indigenisation of these vehicles by the PSU.
CBI, the sources said, has so far found enough evidence to show that BEML had option to directly enter in agreement with Czech manufacturer Tatra a.s which had offered to supply completely built truck at 40 per cent, they said.
The agency has also found that BEML top brass continued to cite dependence on Ravinder Rishi promoted Tatra Sipox UK which was not an authorised representative of Tatra a.s the original manufacturer of trucks, they said.
The agency has so far questioned more than 10 top officials of the BEML who were in the helm of affairs since 1995 and recovered number of documents related to deal during its searches, they said.
CBI sources said Rishi allegedly gave 50 per cent stake to Venus projects, a representative of Tatra a.s, in Tatra Sipox UK to ensure he is able to supply products of both the companies to BEML, which assembled them in India and supplied them to the Army at a premium.
The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning supply from Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to the Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as Original Equipment manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech company which was against rules, they said.

DRDO Products

Major Products/Technologies

• Air-Borne Telemetry Receiving System
• All Electric Type Weapon Control System for ICV
• Antenna Systems
• Bhima
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• Biomedical Devices for External Use
• Briefcase SATCOM Terminal
• Code Programme
• Diagnostic Products for Infection Imaging
• EOCM-Class Laser System
• Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)
• FSAPDS, Ammunition
• Indigenous X-Ray Industrial Tomography System
• Integrated Weapon System Simulation
• Kaveri Engine
• Lakshya
• Laser Warning Sensors
• Light Combat Aircraft
• Manipulator Arm
• MBT Arjun
• Missiles (Agni, Prithvi, Nag, Trishul, Akash)
• MMIC
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• Naval Weapon Systems
• Nishant
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• Pan/Tilt Platform for Vision Systems
• Pinaka
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• Rapid Quantification & Detection Techniques for Pesticides In Fruits & Vegetables
• Recovery Parachute System
• Sangraha
• Sanyukta
• Special Materials
• Technology for Dengue Control
• Technology for Titanium Sponge Production

Corrupt BEML

NEW DELHI: The CBI has found a 1994 letter from Czech truck manufacturer Tatra offering direct collaboration with the public sector BEML to supply completely built trucks at 40% discount on their retail price, on the condition of doing away with intermediaries. CBI sources said they had recovered the letter written by a Tatra AS official and were trying to find out if there was any sabotage.

Sources said that despite the offer of completely built trucks at Rs 23 lakh a piece in 1994 directly from the manufacturer, BEML entered into a deal with Ravinder Rishi-promoted Tatra Sipox UK in 1997, which was an intermediary, at much higher rates. CBI feels this was allegedly at the behest of some interested parties.

Sources said India had entered into a truck supply deal with Czechoslovakia-based Tatra in 1986 through its authorized representative Omnipol. After division of the country in 1992, the company got divided between Czech Republic-based Tatra AS, which manufactured 70% of the truck, and Slovakia-based Tatra Sipox, which manufactured axles and chasis. Sources added that close to the division of Czechoslovakia, there was chaos between 1991-94 when there was almost no supply and BEML, without any formal agreement, allegedly started procuring trucks from Venus, a representative of Tatra AS.

Sources said in the letter, the Tatra AS official also mentioned the "comfort level" BEML enjoyed with Venus, an intermediary. In the proposal, he suggested BEML enter into a fresh agreement with the company on two conditions — terminate the 1986 agreement with Omnipol and remove any intermediary.

Sources said the proposal was very much in line with the Defence Procurement Rules which said defence purchases should either be through the manufacturer or its authorized representatives and Tatra was insisting to do away with any intermediaries.

Sources said that despite Tatra not having any formal agreement with Tatra Sipox UK for marketing its products and the latter not being its authorized representative, BEML still chose to enter into an agreement with it in violation of Defence Procurement Rules. They said Tatra had entered into an agreement with Venus to market its products, while Tatra Sipox UK claimed to be a representative of Tatra Sipox. CBI sources said Rishi allegedly gave 50% stake to Venus in Tatra Sipox UK to ensure he was able to supply products of both the firms to BEML, which supplied them to the Army at a premium.

The agency, which found this letter during one of its searches, is likely to carry out another inspection of BEML facilities in Bangalore, sources said, adding that another BEML facility was inspected earlier this week.

Known Corrupted Politicians of few

List of politicians in India charged with corruption
Name	Important Positions Held During Career	Charges	Trial Result
Kripashankar Singh	President of Congress - Mumbai chapter, Minister of State in Govt. of Maharashtra	Disproportionate Assets running into several hundred Crore rupees.[5]	The Bombay High Court directed the city police commissioner to prosecute him for "criminal misconduct" under the PC Act. [6][7]Investigation is in progress.
Bangaru Laxman	President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)	Bribery in defence deal. He was caught accepting bribe in a Sting operation carried out by Tehelka magazine	Convicted by a Special CBI Court [8]
Prakash Singh Badal	Chief Minister of Punjab	Cheating, Disproportionate Assets	Acquitted after witnesses turned hostile[9][10]
Sukhbir Singh Badal	Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab	Cheating, Disproportionate Assets, Intimidating journalists[11]	Acquitted after witnesses turned hostile,[9][10] Other cases still pending
Ashok Chavan	Chief Minister of Maharashtra	Adarsh Housing Society Scam	Accused by CBI, trial pending[12]
Suresh Jain	Minister for food and civil supplies, Maharashtra	Corruption in Jalgaon District Co-operative Bank	Implicated by the Sawant Commission[13]
Balram Jakhar	Union Minister and Speaker	Hawala scandal	Acquitted of all charges[14][15]
C K Jaffer Sheriff	A senior leader of the Indian National Congress party from Karnataka. He was the Railway Minister in the Government of India from 1991-95.	Charged for causing loss to the public exchequer regarding his 1995 foreign trip.	Chargesheet filed by CBI. Charges framed by special CBI on 3 July 2012. Trial to begin on 21 August 2012.[16]
Pratap Singh Kairon	Chief Minister of Punjab	Corruption	Commission of inquiry Indicted him. Resigned. Finally assassinated
Suresh Kalmadi	Member of Parliament	CWG scam	Indicted and arrested, released on bail[17]
M. K. Kanimozhi	Member of Parliament	2G spectrum scam	Indicted and arrested, released on bail[18]
Jagir Kaur	Minister, Punjab Government	Conspiracy to murder her own daughter	Trial continuing[19]
Madhu Koda	Chief Minister of Jharkhand	Rs 4000 crore (USD 8.8 bn) graft money case	In jail since 2009, investigation continues[20]
R.Balakrishna Pillai	Minister, Kerala Government	Idamalayar Dam Graft case	Convicted, serving sentence[21]
A. Raja	Union Cabinet Minister for Communications and Information Technology	2G spectrum scam	Indicted and arrested, Awaiting trial[22]
Sukh Ram	Telecom Minister	1993 Telecom scam	Sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment by sessions court in July 2002 which was upheld by Delhi High Court on December 21, 2011. Supreme Court granted him an interim bail till August 7, 2012.[23] In another related case sessions court on November 20, 2011 awarded him five years of rigorous imprisonment.[24][25]
P. V. Narasimha Rao (deceased)	Prime Minister	Alleged offering of bribes, alleged framing of V.P. Singh, and cheating Lakhubhai Pathak	Higher court overturned conviction in the first case and the trial court acquitted him in the other two cases[26][27][28][29]
Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy	Member of Parliament	Disproportionate Assets	Chargesheeted by CBI, Awaiting prosecution[30]
Pinarayi Vijayan	Kerala State Secretary of CPIM	SNC-Lavalin case.	Awaiting prosecution[31]
Lalu Prasad Yadav	Chief Minister of Bihar, Minister of Railways	Fodder scam, others	Acquitted in 2006 in Disproportionate Assets case.[32][33] As of May 2012, Fodder scam cases still going on.[34] [35][36]
B. S. Yeddyurappa	Former Chief Minister of Karnataka	Illegal mining scam	Surrendered to Lokayukta court, was in judicial custody for 22 days, released on bail[37][38]
G. Janardhana Reddy	Member of Legislative Council, Government of Karnataka	Illegal mining scam	In judicial custody in Hyderabad[39]
Virbhadra Singh	Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Union Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises	Misuse of official position (chief minister) and criminal conduct[40]	Chargesheet filed in court of special Judge BL Soni[40]
Tota Singh [41]	Education Minister (Govt of Punjab), Agriculture Minister (Govt. of Punjab)[41]	Disproportionate Assets: Misusing official position and possessing property worth 10 crore which was stated to be disproportionate to his known sources of income [42]	Convicted by trial court, gets 1 year jai