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The Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee has said that a new Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has been created to focus on the various requirements of ex-servicemen. Addressing the first meeting of the newly constituted Consultative Committee attached to the ministry here today, Shri Mukherjee said that the new department will coordinate the implementation of several ex-servicemen welfare schemes including Ex- Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme with various State Governments. This Department will look into various posts - service requirements of ex-servicemen.
Referring to concerns expressed by a member regarding recent crashes of Air Force aircraft the Defence Minister said that an expert group is being appointed to look into this matter. This group will go into various issues related to maintenance, training and machinery of these aircraft. On the issue of the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as per the recommendations of the Group of Ministers, the Defence Minister said that this requires a larger political consensus. However, he agreed that the present arrangement of Chairman Chief of Staff Committee is not the substitute for CDS.
Responding to a question regarding the need for more coordination between several intelligence agencies, the Defence Minister said that the setting up of the Defence Intelligence Agency is a right step in this direction.
Complimenting the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for its contribution to various indigenous Defence development programmes, Shri Mukherjee said that Light Combat Aircraft, ‘Tejas’ developed by DRDO has successfully completed 300 flights without any major problem. The Defence Minister said that one of the reasons for some delay in many projects of DRDO was the sanctions imposed on India by some countries. Shri Mukherjee said that it has always been our endeavour to ensure transfer of latest technology in every major equipment acquisition from abroad.
Underlying the need for more participation by private sector in defence production, Shri Mukherjee said that a small group has been set up under the Chairmanship of Shri Vijay Kelkar to suggest concrete steps to be taken in this direction. He hoped that this group will submit its report by next month.
Shri Mukherjee informed the members that by October this year more than 47 per cent of the budgeted funds has already been spent in comparison to 23 per cent utilisation in the same period in the financial year 2003-04.
Members of the committee made various suggestions to expedite implementation of the pending recommendations of the Group of Ministers within a stipulated time frame. One member expressed concern over the recent increase in number of crashes of Air Force aircraft. Some members also expressed concern over the delays in implementation of various DRDO projects. Another member was of the opinion that more private sector participation in defence projects should be explored. A member suggested that the proposal to set up the National Defence University should be expedited.
Members who attended the meeting were Shri Milind Murli Deora, Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Smt Jayaben B Thakkar, Shri Anant Kumar Hegde, Shri Samik Lahiri and Shri A Shivajirao Patil (Members Lok Sabha) and Dr. Karan Singh, Smt Sushma Swaraj, Shri Robert Kharshiing and Shri Dara Singh Chauhan (Members Rajya Sabha).
The Minister of State for Defence Production Shri BK Handique, Defence Secretary Shri Ajai Vikram Singh, Secretary Defence Production Shri Shekhar Dutta, Secretary Defence Finance Ms Somi Tandon and various senior civil and military officials attended the meeting
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