New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): A parliamentary panel has recommended that the DRDO “expeditiously” finalise and notify clear, measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covering cost efficiency, technological maturity, target dates, completion time, and operational effectiveness.
In its report, presented in Parliament on Friday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence noted that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) provides equal opportunities to women employees and has a well-established grievance redressal mechanism in place.
It recommended, however, that all-out “efforts should be made to strengthen the complaint mechanism” and ensure strict adherence to the SOP on dealing with complaints under the POSH Act.
The committee said it appreciates the role of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Sexual Harassment Electronic Box (She-Box), and the appointment of nodal officers in each lab for a timely redressal of complaints under the POSH Act.
The panel said it desires that the steps taken by the DRDO for a timely completion of projects, proper utilisation of funds, and prevention of cost overruns may be apprised at the time of submitting the action taken statement.
“The Committee reiterates its recommendation that DRDO should expeditiously finalise and notify clear, measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covering cost efficiency, technological maturity, target dates, completion time and operational effectiveness,” the report said.
The panel stressed that a “structured, transparent, and periodic benchmarking framework” may be instituted by the DRDO as recommended earlier, and the committee may be apprised of the same at the time of the action taken statement by the defence ministry.
The committee also said it has noted from the ministry’s reply that various welfare measures and initiatives have been undertaken by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare for the benefit of ex-servicemen and their dependents, including enhancement of financial assistance, strengthening of legal aid, establishment of Integrated Sainik Complexes, and regular consultations with stakeholders.
These initiatives are indeed commendable and reflect the ministry’s commitment and continued efforts towards improving the welfare ecosystem for the ex-servicemen community, it said.
“However, the Committee observe that the ministry has not specifically responded to the Committee’s recommendation regarding undertaking a comprehensive study, in consultation with all stakeholders, to explore additional avenues for the welfare of children, wards and widows of armed forces personnel,” the report said.
The panel said the ministry’s reply is, therefore, “silent” on this important aspect of the recommendation.
“The Committee, in this regard, reiterate their earlier recommendation and desire that the ministry may undertake the proposed comprehensive study in consultation with the Ministry of Education, state governments, professional regulatory bodies and other concerned stakeholders to examine the feasibility of expanding educational opportunities, including enhancement of reservation and other suitable support measures for children/wards of armed forces personnel, particularly the feasibility of enhancing reservation for children/wards of defence personnel in professional colleges across the country,” the panel added.
It said it desires that the progress in this regard, together with the action taken thereon and the ministry’s considered views, may be furnished to the committee at the earliest.
The panel said the migration of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) applications to the National Government Cloud is a “welcome initiative”, and suggested that the ministry prepare a time-bound roadmap for the completion of the migration, integration of stakeholders, and operationalisation of the unified platform.
The report also underlined that the panel appreciates the “special increase” in the defence capital budget in the current year due to Operation Sindoor and acknowledges the commitment of the government to strengthen defence R&D in the coming years.
The committee “strongly” recommends that the government may progressively increase the defence research and development (R&D) budget over the next five years.
In another report, the panel reiterated that sustained investment in R&D is indispensable for achieving technological self-reliance and maintaining the global competitiveness of the Indian defence industry.
“While the overall increase in R&D expenditure is encouraging, the Committee desire that the Department (of Defence Production) should closely monitor the implementation of the five-year R&D Roadmap and ensure that the proposed investment of Rs 33,000 crore during the five-year roadmap results in achieving the aim of indigenisation and thereby reducing dependency on foreign imports,” it said.
The panel also noted that due to persistent high demand for NCC affiliation across the country, the government has sanctioned an additional three lakh NCC cadet vacancies under the expansion plan, and that enrolment against these vacancies has commenced, and is proposed to be completed in a phased manner during the period 2025–2028. PTI KND VN VN
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