JVs best solution for manpower crunch in PSUs: NAL Director

Bangalore, Jun 25 (UNI) Joint ventures in technology development by government-owned organisations like National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) could be a solution to overcome the severe talent crunch, being faced by such organisations, according to NAL Director A R Upadhya.

Briefing reporters on the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Laboratories, he said NAL was finding it tough to find suitable manpower, especially scientists cadre, and the situation was getting worse.

He said joint ventures with private sectors in developing new technologies, especially in the aviation sector, could resolve this problem, dogging the government research institutions.

''We have signed a JV with Mahindra and Mahindra to develop five-seater multipurpose General Aviation Aircraft. Such tie ups will certainly help,'' he said.

Private aviation sector in India did not have enough resources and good manpower but the scenario was changing. ''Now they can be depended upon. In the years to come, they will come up with better quality in both fields and institutions like NAL can forge closer ties,'' he said.

Dr Upadhya regretted that NAL, once the preferred destination for the best brain power in the country, was struggling to find good scientists. Last year, it had to fill 80 posts of B and C Grade scientists, but could hardly get 60, that too not the best in quality, he said.

He said this year too, the Lab had sent appointment letters to about 60 candidates for the posts of scientists, but many of them were reluctant to join as they had good offers from the private sector.

NAL was forced to give extension to many scientists as there was no second line to take over from those who were retiring.

However, organisations like NAL and ISRO offered technologically challenging jobs to them, while in private sector companies they end up doing routine jobs.

NAL had been receiving many inquiries for joint production in the sector, following the offset clause brought in for defence purchases. ''We are interested in offset market, but we will insist on developing new technologies and not producing routine products,'' he said.

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