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Speed up projects, deliver ahead of time: Modi to DRDO scientists
Tribune News Service

Flays ‘chalta hai’ attitude Modi said technology was changing fast in the defence sector and India has been left behind because products which are “two steps ahead” come into the market “even before we conceptualise a system.” It is not that India lacks the talent pool, but I think there is this ‘chalta hai’ (lackadaisical) attitude, said the Prime Minister

New Delhi, August 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to speed up projects and be ready to deliver ahead of schedule in a fast-changing world.

“The world is changing very fast and so are the parameters of war and defence. Technology is becoming a key driving force. The big challenge is how we complete our work before time. If the world will finish something in 2020, can we do it by 2018?’’ said the PM in his address after presenting the DRDO awards in the Capital.

The premier defence organisation has often come under attack for prolonged delays in several key projects, including the over two-decade-old Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, a long-range surface-to-air missile and indigenous Arjun tanks.

“We can be the world leader not by following but by showing the way,” the Prime Minister said. “The world will not wait for us.

We have to run ahead of time….It should not be so that a project is conceived in 1992 and in 2014 (we say) it will take some more time. The world will go ahead,” Modi said.

Expressing faith in the ability of the DRDO to deliver, the Prime Minister said technology should become the key driving force and asked the organisation to visualise, anticipate and eventually set the agenda for global defence community.

Congratulating the scientists who were feted today, he compared them to ancient sages who composed the Vedas stating the devotion with which these scientists worked in such a sensitive domain, reminded us of the “Rishi-Mann” – “the mind of a sage.”

In order to give thrust to research in higher technology, Modi suggested at least five DRDO labs be earmarked exclusively for innovations by young scientists. “Let us identify universities in this field and then associate a scientist with a university. It will help students,” said the Prime Minister.

He asked the scientists to connect with the ultimate end-user of their products – the soldier, who can suggest practical innovations in defence technology. “Has the soldier met the sage who toiled for 15 years to develop a good product for him (soldier). Are our scientists getting the opportunity to interact with Army personnel? When this happens, it will be very good,” said Modi.