The Prime Minister, Shri I K Gujral, has complimented the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for its achievements towards realizing the goal of self-reliance in defence. Inaugurating the three-day biennial conference of DRDO Directors here today, he said the country is proud of DRDO, whose scientists, known and unnamed, have built the foundation of our defence. He said it has made us feel safer, secure, and self-reliant.

Emphasizing the critical need for self-reliance, especially in defence, the Prime Minister recalled that history had taught us that whenever we had lost, it was not because of a lack of courage but a lack of technology. He pointed out that since the 1962 war, DRDO has come a long way, beginning with manufacturing uniforms and simple weapons.

Shri Gujral said that science and technology are the crucial areas of the future. In various sizes, technology has been denied to us, he said. However, he added that our scientists have faced those challenges and developed the products indigenously. Reiterating that self-reliance is central to our foreign policy, he further pointed out that arms and technology from abroad could never make any nation proud.

The Prime Minister said that research and development is fast changing, and it is necessary to keep pace with it. He said that when the country celebrates the 50th year of Independence, the nation is confident that the legacy of our freedom fighters who overthrew the colonial regime is being taken further by our scientists through achieving self-reliance. In his address, the Defence Minister, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, stressed that while there could be a resource crunch in the country, it would be our responsibility to find resources for meeting the top priorities like the defence needs. Shri Yadav complimented the jawans for discharging their duties under the most trying conditions,

The Defence Minister noted that some powers in the world may not be happy about our progress. During his recent visit abroad, he complimented the Prime Minister for clarifying that India cannot be cowed down. He said the scientists have met significant challenges in making the country self-reliant. He pointed out that while India was denied the supercomputer in the eighties, our scientists have now developed a far better Super Computer at a lesser cost indigenously. He said there is no lack of talent in the country, and the scientists have contributed to defence and the other sectors.

Addressing the meeting, the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, said the conference’s objective would be to strengthen the partnership between DRDO, defence production, and the user agencies further. It would also discuss the changing threat perceptions and technology transfer issues. He pointed out that DRDO, with its 52 laboratories nationwide, has had to combat the technology-restrictive regime and made a significant breakthrough in several critical areas like microprocessor chips and indigenous electronics development. He said DRDO’s efforts’ production value was Rs.1500 crore last year.

Briefing the meeting about some of the achievements of DRDO, he said the ‘PRITHVI’ missile for the army is under production. ‘TRISHUL’, ‘NAG’ and ‘AKASH’ missiles are expected to be ready by next year. He informed the meeting that the first flight of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is likely in the next few months. The Prime Minister and Dr. Abdul Kalam complimented the retiring Chief of the Army, Gen Shankar Roychowdhury, for his encouragement of the efforts of DRDO. The Prime Minister also presented a memento to the Army Chief.

The Prime Minister also gave away several awards on this occasion. Scientist of the Year award for 1995 and 1996 was presented to 20 scientists. They are Dr M Vidyasagar, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics; Shri R C Chakraborty, Image Processing; Dr K K Srivastava, Life Sciences; Dr K K Srivastava, Electromagnetics; Shri P G Shrotri, Armaments; Shri M B Singh, Management, Dr. 0 P Ni Jhawan, instrumentation; Shri I N Sitaram, Electronics; Shri Sharad Mahadev Wele, Engineering; Dr A R Reddy, Basic Sciences; Shri Ajoy Ranan, Flight Sciences; Dr K Neelakantan, Computer Sciences; Shri P K Biswas, Engineering; Dr A Venugopal Reddy, Metallurgy; Dr R C Malhotra, Basic Sciences; Dr Ram Kurnar, Management; Dr V P Singh, Training and Information, Shri S K Ray, Missile; Shri MR Joshi, Engineering; and Shri V S Sethi, Armament.

The Prime Minister also presented the DRDO Laboratory Awards for 1996. The Silicon Trophy was given to the Armament Research Development Establishment, Pune, and the Titanium Trophy to the Field Research Laboratory, Leh. The 1995, 1996, and 1997 Technology Transfer and Assimilation Awards were also presented.

The Minister of State for Defence, Shri N V N Senu, presented two publications. The Prime Minister witnessed an impressive display of DRDO products at the Army Parade Ground. These included the Main Battle Tank ‘ARJUN’, Surface-to-Surface Missle System ‘PRITHVI, Pilotless Target Aircraft, Remotely Piloted Vehicle ‘NlSHANT’ and the Multi barrel Rocket System, ‘PINAKA’.

PIB (DEFENCE WING)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Date: September 28, 1997