Managed to bring in a change in MoD mindset: Parrikar

Bengaluru, July 7: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday that after the Make in India push, he was able to bring in a mindset change in the Ministry of Defence (MoD). In city, attending the 7th edition of a strategic electronics summit anchored by the Electronic Industry Association of India (Elcina), Parrikar said the government is trying its best to bring in a culture shift.

When informed that the Make in India initiative still has many layers of uncertainties surrounding it, Parrikar said: "We are trying our best to bring in a number of changes. I believe that one of my best achievements is the reasonable change in mindset that we have managed to bring in."

Climate of suspicion should go

He said the current 'climate of suspicion' engulfing MoD should go which has resulted in unwanted unnecessary procedures hurting the industry.

"I can assure you every possible help from my side and you must assure me honesty and good work," Parrikar said.

He said the tendency to view every move in MoD with suspicion still exists owing to the earlier scams.
"Take the case of issuing of Request for Proposal (REP). Now, no changes can be made to RFP as it is viewed that the change is done after taking bribe. We will change that procedure too and there is a way of having transparency there too," he said.

He assured the members of Elcina that their proposal to have a lab in Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will be made possible soon.

"I will make sure that it fructifies in the next two to three months," he said.

He said the government has opened up PSUs and ordnance factories to the private sector."The applications are running into thousands, which is a good sign. Now firms and researchers can use this facility without too many hassles. If we remove the bottlenecks and address the issues, the industry is capable of delivering what the country wants," Parrikar said.

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