NEW DELHI: Contractual employees in defence research establishments pose threat to national security in the wake of cases of spying. They are generally hired under two categories—technical and non-technical.
Those who are hired under technical category have complete access to all information, as they assist project directors and programme leaders of the particular project.
“All these technical and non-technical staff is normally hired through placement service agencies. And it is the responsibility of the manpower supply agency to check antecedents of those people,” explained a DRDO scientist, on condition of anonymity.
Shockingly, the key wings of the DRDO like Hyderabad-based Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DERL), Research Centre Imarat, Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Pune-based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) are the biggest recruiters of contractual employees. These contractual employees are not only involved in every step of design and development of projects but also in trials.
According to available records, over 170 engineers on contract/casual basis are working for the key Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. The LCA project dates back to 1983 when Rs 560 crore was sanctioned for six prototypes. Repeated delays have led to heavy cost overrun and Tejas is yet to be inducted into the Indian Air Force.
Another scientist told The Sunday Standard that he always finds a news team of contractual employees, whenever he goes for trials of the missiles. “During trials of a surface-to-air missile, I was designated to trace the trajectory and target. Most of the team members and engineers were on contract basis.”
Revealing a shocking instance of the state of recruitment in DRDO, he added that a contractual employee was hired with payment of Rs 64,000/ for six months at Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur and was appointed in the office of the Director’s Secretariat. The employee was mandated to monitor and maintain important files, as per his contract agreement.
In a separate agreement, the contractor was asked to deploy 15 personnel (clerical and skilled) at DRL, Tezpur and DRL Detachment at Tawang and Salari of Arunachal Pradesh for a period of one year. It is notable that Tawang and Salari in Arunachal Pradesh are very critical areas in terms of country’s strategic requirement, as Chinese troops keep claiming the territory as part of their territory.
“Appointment of contractual/casual persons at such important and critical locations has put the country’s strategic assets in danger. People with such low salary can easily be lured and compromised,” said Prabhu Dandriyal, a former DRDO scientist, who has exposed various irregularities in the agency.
In fact, in his complaint to the Prime Minister’s Office, Dandriyal has mentioned several instances, where retired officials were appointed in key places on contract basis, where they were influencing DRDO’s functioning and decisions.
Mentioning another instance, an insider said a Delhi-based Special Project Implementation Centre (SPIC), handling strategic development locations infrastructure, has majority of contractual employees. SPIC was in dispute, when it did not allow internal audit by the team of defence audit department citing secrecy of the projects they were handling.
Pune-based HEMRL, under the provision of government-owned company-operated, contracts for development of missile explosives are being given to a private entity, which hire contractual labourers who are privy to key information of classified nature.
Though DRDO’s present strength is about 30,000 regular/ permanent personnel, which include 7,500 scientists and 23,000 technical and support staff, the number of contractual employees in the defence research agency is almost double of its permanent strength.
In 2014, DRDO, however, initiated a Cabinet Note for augmentation of manpower by 1,316 posts (1,260 scientists and 56 works cadre officers). These are proposed to be filled in phased manner in three recruitment years.
Key DRDO Labs With Contractual Staff
Over 50,000 contractual/casual employees in DRDO’s 55 laboratories
Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bangalore: A key Aeronautical Systems Design House which researches, designs and develops Unmanned Aircraft Systems like Rustom and systems for manned aircraft, including simulators.
Advanced System Laboratory, Hyderabad: Key institution for missile development. Projects include Agni missile series, Prithvi, LRSAM.
Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore: Under Department of Defence R&D, it is the nodal agency for design and development of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad: Entrusted with the primary responsibility of the design and development of electronic warfare systems covering radar and communication frequency bands for the Indian Army, Air Force and the Navy.
High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune: Develops expertise and technologies relating to high explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics.
Electronics & Radar Development Establishment: Develops radar systems and related technologies to cater to the needs of services. Enhances infrastructure, knowledge base and technologies for achieving self-reliance.
Armament Research & Development Establishment: Responsible for design and development of conventional armaments (CA) for the services and paramilitary forces.