Fan R&D concepts in defence to power Make in India: Experts

Mysuru, Jan 07: Aerospace and defence experts shared their thoughts on ‘'Skills Sets Development in Engineering Manufacture for Make in India initiatives'' at the last day of 103rd Indian Science Congress (103ISC) here.

Chairing the panel discussion, Dr V K Aatre, former DRDO chief said India can become a world power only if it becomes an economic power.

"To become an economic power the power of knowledge is necessary". There are three requirements for wealth producing technologies and the first one is the annual supply of uncluttered young minds the second one is to convert the idea into a prototype, the third being the most crucial step is industrialisation, marketability and saleability.

A country which fulfils these three requirements can only generate wealth for itself," Dr Aatre said.

He said invention, innovation and industrialisation are the three I's for skills improvement in the country.
‘'If Asian researchers don't go to the US, then they will have a dent.

There is no dearth for academic talent in India. Look at what ISRO has done, Chadrayan and Mangalyaan, in a span of five years is quite an achievement,'' he said.

India must address skill set development on priority

In his talk, Raj Narayanan, Managing Director of the Radel Group, said unless India addresses the skill development issue, the concept of Make in India will remain toothless.

"Today the foreign companies hold us to ransom and in many cases refuse the transfer of technology. We need to cultivate the concept of R&D ourselves. We should first design, innovate and manufacture in India," Narayanan said.

He said every bit of technology is available in the country, but Indians do not believe in themselves.

‘'Our skill levels are abysmal and they are not tested in the class rooms. Even the Defence Public Sector Units have not given the expected support to the private sector even after over 50 years of their existence," says Narayanan.

According to him, design engineers are missing in this country, though the machinery, technicians and industry are available. ‘'I have started the Drona School of Engineering Practices to address some of the issues,'' he said.

He said the Radel Group has been supporting India's defence programmes by supplying home-grown products.

"We supply distributors for the Jaguars that fire rockets, speed switch for Dornier, an electronic bomb release system for Jaguars and Radio Magnetic Injectors for the Dhruv chopper," he said.

During the interaction session with the audience, one of the students posed a question on the long procedures one has to follow to do internships in defence establishments.

When OneIndia backed the query and said that the long procedures often dampen the spirit of youngsters, Dr Aatre said he would see whether the process can be improved.

In their concluding remarks, most speakers felt that Make in India will only happen if India backs technology innovations.

OneIndia News