Govt seeks to improve state-owned defence firms: Jitendra Singh

Kolkata: The Centre is aiming to improve performance of PSU defence units in accordance with the new procurement policy which put strong emphasis on promoting indigenisation, Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh said today. “I will be visiting OFB (Ordnance Factory Board) and GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers), and see how I can improve their performance in terms of quality and quantity requirements of the armed forces. It is a review meeting,” Singh said after inaugurating an online billing facility of the ex-servicemen contributory health scheme.[caption id=“attachment_845227” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh (R). Image courtesy PIB[/caption] The minister would inaugurate the integrated shipbuilding facility at the GRSE on 6 June. Describing the defence procurement procedure 2013 as a “solid step towards self-reliance”, Singh underlined a joint effort by defence public sector enterprises and Indian industry for the technological exchange and upgradation and employment generation. “The DPP’s objective is how to enable the Indian industry and create an environment for them to come forward. The Indian industry will be protected and given the advantages over others,” Singh said. On the improvement of production facilities at the defence PSUs, the minister said, “We need to upgrade at the world standard. There are large orders from the Indian armed forces. So immediate supply of quality products on time is needed.” Singh visited the Eastern Command Headquarters in Fort William where he was briefed by Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Dalbir Singh on the state of preparedness and counter insurgency situation in the eastern region. PTI