DRDO Chief sacked?

[Indo-guy]

No fixed set of rules but the ministry decides and has to file a detailed report whenever an extension case is put up. Besides the report also has to explain why the person is irreplaceable (in other words why isn't there an alternate?)
In organizational hierarchy, it is expected that alternate to chief of departments be identified that can take charge in case of absence or medical issues. So by that practice it is difficult to prove that there isn't an alternate and that explains why extensions are becoming rarer..

This is very important question in general .
rocket science is indeed a rocket science .

and therefore Technocrats have to be treated in manner commensurate with their value .

One can't have similar rules for scientists working in such a critical area .
It takes decades to develope their expertise . and all that knowledge will be lost once such people are discharged from service . there must be way to harness expertise of such technocrats .
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One size fits for all Planning commission was replaced by a more inclusive & diverse institution called Niti Ayog. Let's wait & see how Niti Ayog does before sending our condolences to Planning commission, which hasn't done a great job despite being in existence for so many decades. So it's not destroying exactly..,.but re-structuring.
Coming back to DRDO.. I'm not really conversant with the functioning of this organisation, but I have full confidence in Mr Parikkar's working, considering the kind of reputation he carries from his previous stint as the chief minister of Goa!

I just quoted planning commission as an example . I do not want to divert the topic .

But let me tell you Planning commission subserved very important function .

and whether it was a good thing to re structure the planning commission or not is the question that remains to be seen .

I just hope Modi is proved correct ..but I have my own fears ..

 

[anant_s]

One size fits for all Planning commission was replaced by a more inclusive & diverse institution called Niti Ayog. Let's wait & see how Niti Ayog does before sending our condolences to Planning commission, which hasn't done a great job despite being in existence for so many decades. So it's not destroying exactly..,.but re-structuring.

Planning commission was working on old Soviet style Centralized allocation of resources and this mechanism isn't the most optimal setup in Liberalized economy. Several states have accused successive governments of step motherly treatment and we see this friction whenever any crucial bill is placed in parliament (FDI, land compensation...)
It is therefore important that states have a say in assistance they get from centre and in return be answerable to the resources allocated by being stake-holders.
While it is too early to speculate how NITI AAYOG will function and success, at least a step has been taken to involve states on a larger stage.

 

[JohnyD]

my father is laws extension too got terminated on 31st Dec 04... He is 62.

 

[Indo-guy]

yes sir true, but unless he was personally managing the project (as project director), it'll be difficult to prove how the projects will suffer on his ouster.

Nobody is completely irreplaceable . and projects of this magnitude are result of big team work . He indeed has been a Project director in these crucial projects .

The point that I am harping again and again that dismissing missile scientist is not same as dismissing a Chaprasi ...

I mean what about the decades of experience and technical knowledge that is known to very handful .

Technocrats like Mr Chander must be absorbed somewhere in institution to mentor the upcoming talent .

otherwise it is a great loss to the nation .

these people have spent their life times in their field .

I feel very sorry to see the wastage of precious human resources .

 

[anant_s]

and therefore Technocrats have to be treated in manner commensurate with their value .

i agree with that but the trouble in PSUs and govt aided institutes is that inside the organizations, people involved don't see it that way (say a guy managing a pure production unit like BHEL, ONGC etc and someone heading a research organization DRDO, BARC et al) as service and pay rules apply in same manner (almost) to all.
So you make exception once and its tends to become a practice. Probably government has factored this thing into the decision. Although i do believe guys in cutting edge technology / research areas need to be kept involved till they can or are willing to. After they finish official terms, they have a role of mentor to play.

 

[sancho]

No the extension was given in November !

It was given by the Modi government itself .

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had appointed Chander for a three-year term, starting June 1, 2013, though he had already been given two extensions of service. When the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took charge, rumour had swirled that Chander would not continue beyond November 31, 2014, when he would reach the age of superannuation, that is, 65 years...
...That speculation was put to rest on Friday. Announcing Chander would indeed retire from government service when he superannuated on November 30, he was retained for another 18 months on contract.

"The appointment of Avinash Chander beyond his date of retirement, that is, November 31, 2014, for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to secretary (defence R&D) before the date of retirement. His contractual term will end on 31 May, 2016," said a defence ministry announcement.

DRDO gets continuity as chief gets 18 more months | Business Standard News

They didn't extended his contract as you can see, they just decided to not retire him early because of his age and keep the running contract and THAT seems to have changed now, for whatever reasons.

 

[Nilesh Singh]

How do you know that they are valuable or no ?
Mr Chander was working on very crucial projects ...Agni VI , K5 SLBM are very critical for country ...
Why govt gave him 18 months long extension in first place ...if he was replaceable ?

I think such ad hoc actions can be detrimental too .

I agree the repeated extension can choke up the growth of those downstream ....but He could have been retained in some other capacity ...

It is not easy to teach and generate talent in such high end critical technical area .




what about Modi's own failure in meeting deadlines ?

I am saying that he has been valuable asset . If Govt was not happy - they should not have given him the extension in first place . there was no need to stage such fiasco .

You should understand that it is not easy to nurture the talent in the area Mr Avinash Chander has been working .

He could have been retained in some other capacity - the mantle of DRDO could have been passed to somebody else .



Modi did not show same zeal in dismissing his errant ministers . did he ?

Sorry to say but you sound like a congress spoke person, just complaining for the sake of complaining. No body is discounting Mr. Chander work, but you have to see what as a whole DRDO has achieved against what was promised in his term. There must be accountability, he can't be given extension thinking we do not have any one to replace, put someone young in his place and ask him to deliver , but first give him time to get into the integrity of DRDO and ask him what he can deliver and how much time and money is required and then provide all the support to him, if he also fails to provide positive result bring someone else. We need to work with result clearly defined, hard work and good person is not required in DRDO result should be the parameter to judge anybody.

Planning commission has lost the relevance in today's world, you can't dictate policy with centralized format where you make policy and decide the finance and it is give to state to implement sitting in Delhi. You require equal participation of State to formulate policy for the entire nation where NITI Ayog comes. Its upto you to agree or not, but I have not heard from any economist who has said NITI Ayog is wrong for the country.

Believe me government is working in top gear for a Democratic country like India, it was not far that India was rediculed whole world for policy paralysis, and just see the difference now, major law has been passed (we can debate on govt. Ordinance route), weather our parliament work or not. this says a lot about the resolve of government to work.

 

[Indo-guy]

DRDO gets continuity as chief gets 18 more months | Business Standard News

They didn't extended his contract as you can see, they just decided to not retire him early because of his age and keep the running contract and THAT seems to have changed now, for whatever reasons.

This is just a matter of semantics . It is pretty clear that in November when he was finishing his term - they gave him 18 months extension which they revoked now .

i agree with that but the trouble in PSUs and govt aided institutes is that inside the organizations, people involved don't see it that way (say a guy managing a pure production unit like BHEL, ONGC etc and someone heading a research organization DRDO, BARC et al) as service and pay rules apply in same manner (almost) to all.
So you make exception once and its tends to become a practice. Probably government has factored this thing into the decision. Although i do believe guys in cutting edge technology / research areas need to be kept involved till they can or are willing to. After they finish official terms, they have a role of mentor to play.

Tell me what has Govt done to infuse new talent in our research institutes ? which is the main premise of all this ?

are they recruiting more young people ? are they giving more fellowships ? are they opening more Universities ? are they creating more PhD courses ?

in absence of such fundamental measures - when he have not taken care of bottom layer just getting rid of top layer does not make sense .

at least they should be involved in the teaching and mentoring new scientists ....

My concern is that off course the projects will keep going ..but talent that has been cultivated over period of decades is merely lost in oblivion ....

Sorry to say but you sound like a congress spoke person, just complaining for the sake of complaining. No body is discounting Mr. Chander work, but you have to see what as a whole DRDO has achieved against what was promised in his term. There must be accountability, he can't be given extension thinking we do not have any one to replace, put someone young in his place and ask him to deliver , but first give him time to get into the integrity of DRDO and ask him what he can deliver and how much time and money is required and then provide all the support to him, if he also fails to provide positive result bring someone else. We need to work with result clearly defined, hard work and good person is not required in DRDO result should be the parameter to judge anybody.

Planning commission has lost the relevance in today's world, you can't dictate policy with centralized format where you make policy and decide the finance and it is give to state to implement sitting in Delhi. You require equal participation of State to formulate policy for the entire nation where NITI Ayog comes. Its upto you to agree or not, but I have not heard from any economist who has said NITI Ayog is wrong for the country.

Believe me government is working in top gear for a Democratic country like India, it was not far that India was rediculed whole world for policy paralysis, and just see the difference now, major law has been passed (we can debate on govt. Ordinance route), weather our parliament work or not. this says a lot about the resolve of government to work.

You are feeling sorry for what you are accusing me of - at least that's one good thing !

I am complaining for sake of complaining ? how ? Do prove your accusation .

please read all my posts and try to understand what I have said and why ? instead of blindly attacking ....

Did I say that people should not be accountable ?
did I say that there should be no space for new talent ?

Please go back and read all my post sand them come to quarrel with me .

 

[Stephen Cohen]

DRDO chief is an ADMINISTRATIVE post

He is not directly involved in R and D activities

WHY should he keep getting extensions ; Let somebody else become the chief

 

[sancho]

This is just a matter of semantics . It is pretty clear that in November when he was finishing his term - they gave him 18 months extension which they revoked now .

No it is not, because an extension is only granted when the contract runs out, which wasn't the case, since his contract still had 18 months to go. They could had legally retired him then and now have sacked him, according NDTV they didn't even notified him and he learned about this from media reports, which indeed would be shamefull if true.

 

[JanjaWeed]

T
I just quoted planning commission as an example . I do not want to divert the topic .

But let me tell you Planning commission subserved very important function .

and whether it was a good thing to re structure the planning commission or not is the question that remains to be seen .

I just hope Modi is proved correct ..but I have my own fears ..

Fair enough.. but there's a vast difference between restructuring an institution & destroying it. Let's not be cynical & negative even before it takes off.

 

[magudi]

Excellent decision!

Not surprising at all as the new govt policy has been not to extend tenures of psu employees

This just re affirms my faith in parrikar

Hope the new chief streamlines everything and ensures greater accountability

Adios to Mr. Avinash Chander - the nation thanks him for his contributions

To all naysayers - Sachin was a good BATSMAN but never a good CAPTAIN

 

[Indo-guy]

No it is not, because an extension is only granted when the contract runs out, which wasn't the case, since his contract still had 18 months to go. They could had legally retired him then and now have sacked him, according NDTV they didn't even notified him and he learned about this from media reports, which indeed would be shamefull if true.

" On Friday, DRDO chief Avinash Chander was given an 18-month extension that lets him head the organisation till May 31, 2016. "

this is the excerpt from very report you posted .

Fair enough.. but there's a vast difference between restructuring an institution & destroying it. Let's not be cynical & negative even before it takes off.

That's what Modi and BJP leaders patted themselves initially . these are not my words .

and the plan to re straucture it with Niti Ayog was afterthought ...came much later .( at least it was announced much later )

I am cynical because I believe the fanfare with which Modi announced dissolution of Planning commission from red fort ...was a show off ...and only later the Niti ayog was announced almost 6 months later . and there are many things are not clear yet ..

they could have thought of it before going public ...the picture that was painted that Modi has done something great by dissolving planning commission...only to realize later that it was being re structured with new name and new but much less powers and much restricted mandate . at the most it will subserve as think tank ..nobody knows yet how it is going to function .

I mean the move to give greater say to state govts is really great ( modi govt must be thanked and praised for that ) ..but did Modi have to kill the Planning commission and re incarnate it with different name just for that ?


all I worry if the move have long term ramifications ...
planning commission did very important role of long term planning of economy - the role and function that has not been assigned to Niti Ayog . who will do that mammoth task of forecasting and making amends in economic policy accordingly ? there is no clarity ...

 

[utraash]

Good decision.... Needs overhaul of entire system though .....

 

[sancho]

" On Friday, DRDO chief Avinash Chander was given an 18-month extension that lets him head the organisation till May 31, 2016. "

this is the excerpt from very report you posted .

You are just twisting the words . He was given extension in November which has been terminated . You can go on and on refusing it . But that will not change the facts .

On the contrary:

The appointment of Avinash Chander beyond his date of retirement, that is, November 31, 2014, for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to secretary (defence R&D) before the date of retirement.

You are only refering to Ajay Shuklas statements, not on the contract that was issued in 2013 till 2016 and the NDA in Nov haven't changed that contract at all, but for that time sticked to it. Why they don't do now is a different matter, but the fact remains, no extension on a contract base was issued, because his contract was running for 18 more month anyway and all they evaluated was, if they retire him before the end of the contract.