Antony Calls for Speedier Indigenisation Efforts

New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) Stressing the need to minimise foreign assistance with India emerging as a major regional and global player, Defence Minister AK Antony today called for speeding up the process of indigenisation.

''Though the pace of indigenisation has increased, a lot more needs to be done... Our long-term objective is to minimise foreign assistance... We must, therefore, make all-out efforts to accelerate the pace of indigenisation,'' the Minister told a function after inaugurating the Molecular Imaging&Research Centre in the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) here.

And while underlining the essentiality of the latest equipment for the Armed Forces, Minister Antony sought ''equal and adequate attention'' to keep motivated and contented ''the most important component -- our human resource''.

''All our investment in equipment and machinery will not yield the desired results till the human resource is looked after well...

I wish to emphasise the urgent need to devise strategies to reduce the stress on jawans... You must continue to devise new strategies to augment the welfare of our soldiers,'' directed Minister Antony.

The state-of-the-art Molecular Imaging&Research Centre with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) facility is expected to enhance the health and operational efficiency of the Armed Forces personnel as also provide spin-off benefits.

UNI