Manpower low in DRDO: Panel

New Delhi, March 14

The manpower in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is grossly insufficient for carrying out committed research and development projects, pointed the standing committee’s report on Demands for Grants for the DRDO.

The report also flagged that in the last five years, a total 131 scientists left the DRDO on personal grounds. The report states that since 2001, the DRDO has been managing with same authorisation in spite of more than six fold increase in the budget outlay. Presently, authorised strength of the DRDO scientists is 7,353 while existing strength is 7,068. The percentage of scientists in the DRDO is 30% of total strength of the DRDO.

In 2010, Manpower Planning Board (MPB) had recommended a manpower hike by 4,966. The Ministry of Finance recommended 1,316 posts. However, the case is pending with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). After a lapse of 10 years since MPB recommended sanctioning of posts, there has been no addition in sanctioned strength. The panel urged the Ministry of Defence to make efforts in this direction. — IANS