The Centre of Indian Trade Unions vehemently condemns the destructive decision of the BJP Govt at the centre to corporatise the Ordnance Factories functioning under defence ministry. Some 44 Ordnance Factories operating under Ordnance Factories Board under Ministry of Defence will be split in seven pieces and seven corporations will be formed under Companies Act.
The Ordnance Factories network along with a few other defence PSUs are contributing most efficiently to country’s defence preparedness besides successfully meeting various basic necessities of quality gears, ammunitions, small arms, dresses, vehicles and various other instruments and equipments for use by our Jawans posted and working under extremely adverse and inclement weathers etc. More than seventy five percent requirements of our defence forces are being successfully and timely produced and supplied by our Ordnance Factories with incomparable efficiency and assured quality. Country’s Ordnance Factories network is an unquestionable example of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, the phrase being so much noisily touted by the Modi Govt, in the respective areas of production and services. There is absolutely no valid rationale for such drastic alteration of the existing structure of the Ordnance Factories network.
The only motivation behind such destructive corporatisation drive is to facilitate phased privatisation of the Ordnance Factories on which the Govt minced no words in its various policy announcements. And in this case, it is not merely privatisation; it is going to be privatisation with domination of foreign corporates through multi-pronged route. On previous occasions also effort had been made by the successive Govts to outsource a part of Ordnance factories products to private sector but that finally ended in failure owing to incapacity of the Indian private players to produce and supply quality product. And now in the renewed drive of privatisation through corporatisation route, entry of foreign companies in the field can no way be ruled out since Govt policy, through its policy statements, already envisages foreign participation in defence production.
The Defence workers unions and federations have been unitedly opposing such destructive design of the Govt through consistent agitations and movement. And present move for corporatisation of Ordnance Factories, that too being pushed through in the midst of 2nd wave of pandemic, is in gross violation of the understanding and assurances given by the Govt to the united platform of Defence workers’ federations in the face of their decision to go in for indefinite strike from 12th October 2020.
CITU congratulates the united platform of Defence Workers Federations for their prompt response to such destructive design of the Govt through countrywide “burning of effigy agitation” on 19th June 2021 as a prelude to further course of united action to be decided by the United Platform shortly. CITU extends support to the agitation of United Platform of Defence Federations on 19th June and calls upon the trade unions and workers stand in solidarity with Defence workers fighting in defence of national interests.
CITU reiterate its condemnation to the destructive move of corporatisation of Ordnance Factories and the evil design of privatisation behind the same and extends all support to the forthcoming struggles of the Defence workers to resist it in national interest. Entire working class movement will resolutely stand by the struggling Defence workers against privatisation through corporatisation route.
Tapan Sen
General Secretary