NRIs showing keen interest to join DRDO Labs

Bangalore, Nov 14 (UNI) Non Resident Indian Scientists are showing keen interest to join the Labs of the Defence Research Development Organisation with the number expected to cross 50 next year.

Disclosing this to newsmen here today Dr K V Raghavan, Chairman of Recruitment and Assessment Centre of DRDO said this year 25 NRI Scientists joined the organisation and next year the number was expected to double.

''Challenging assignments and keenness to return to India'' is driving theses scientists to take up positions with the DRDO at middle level and higher posts, he said adding that aeronautical, material sciences and life sciences streams attract these NRIs.

DRDO has been attracting Indian Scientists from abroad for the last five to six years, he added.

He said that DRDO scientists are in for good time from next year once the revision of salaries was announced by the Pay Commission early 2008. DRDO had recommended to the Commission to enhance the salaries by atleast five times. Besides it had also been recommended that Scientists be provided performance linked incentives. The increase in the wages might not make a significant dent in the DRDO budget of over Rs.5000 crores, he added.

He said the attrition level of the 7500 odd scientists in 50 DRDO labs across the country was a mere 4.7 per cent. Nearly 55 per cent of these scientists were youngsters and the average age of a DRDO scientist currently was 38.

Dr Raghavan said that various innovative schemes and plans have been put in place to enable Scientists carry out their tasks. Youth joining DRDO were lookingh for challenging assignments. He said last year for 300 posts advertised nearly 30,000 applications were received and the demand for joining DRDO labs was not diminishing in the country. Nearly 30 per cent of those who join DRDO labs were from IITs and other institutes of higher learning in the country.

Besides providing six months sabbatical, DRDO which had been declared a deemed university had also offered 80 PHD posts for its scientists and last year 20 have applied, he added.

UNI