The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivered video address in an event organized by the Defence Ministry to dedicate the seven new Defence Companies to the Nation. Raksha Mantri Shri Raj Nath Singh and Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt, among others, were present on the occasion.
In his address, the Prime Minister noted the auspicious occasion of Vijay Dashmi today and the tradition of worshiping arms and ammunition on the day. He said, In India, we see power as a medium of creation. He remarked that with the same spirit, the nation is moving towards strength.
He also paid tributes to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and said that Dr Kalam dedicated his life to the cause of a strong nation and said that Restructuring of Ordnance Factories and creation of 7 companies will give strength to his dream of strong India. New Defence companies are a part of the various resolutions which the nation is pursuing to build a new future for the country during this Amrit Kaal of India’s independence, he added.
The Prime Minister said that the decision of creating these companies was stuck for a long time, and expressed the belief these 7 new companies would form a strong base for the military strength of the country in the times to come. Noting the glorious past of Indian ordnance factories, the Prime Minister commented that upgradation of these companies was ignored in the post-independence period, leading to the country’s dependence on foreign suppliers for its needs. “These 7 defence companies will play a major role in changing this situation”, he said.
He also mentioned that these new companies would play an important role in import substitution, in line with the vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. An order book of more than Rs. 65,000 Cr. reflect the increasing confidence of the country in these companies, he added.
He recalled the various initiatives and reforms undertaken in the recent past that have created Trust, Transparency and Technology driven approach in the defence sector like never before. Today private and public sector are working hand in hand in the mission of national security, he added. He cited Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Defence Corridors as examples of the new approach. He noted as new opportunities are emerging for the youth and MSME the country is seeing the result of policy changes in the recent years. “Our defence export has increased by 325 per cent in last five years”, he added.
He mentioned that it is our target that our companies not only establish expertise in their products but also become a global brand. He urged that while competitive cost is our strength, quality and reliability should be our identity. He further mentioned that in the 21st century, growth and brand value of any nation or any company is determined by its R&D and innovation. He appealed to the new companies that Research and innovation should be a part of their work culture, so that they just don’t catch up but take lead in future technologies. This restructuring would provide more autonomy to the new companies to nurture innovation and expertise and the new companies should encourage such talent, he added. He urged the start-ups to become a part of this new journey through these companies to leverage the research and expertise of each other.
He mentioned that the Government has given these new companies not only a better production environment but also complete functional autonomy. He reiterated that the Government has also ensured that the interests of the employees are fully protected.
To enhance functional autonomy, efficiency and unleash new growth potential and innovation, the Government has decided to convert Ordnance Factory Board from a Government Department into 7 100% Government owned corporate entities, as a measure to improve self-reliance in the defence preparedness of the country. Accordingly, 7 new Defence companies were incorporated, namely Munitions India Limited (MIL); Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVANI); Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWE India); Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) (Troop Comfort Items); Yantra India Limited (YIL); India Optel Limited (IOL); and Gliders India Limited (GIL).
आज ही पूर्व राष्ट्रपति, भारतरत्न, डॉक्टर A. P. J. अब्दुल कलाम जी की जयंती भी है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
कलाम साहब ने जिस तरह अपने जीवन को शक्तिशाली भारत के निर्माण के लिए समर्पित किया, ये हम सभी लिए प्रेरणा है: PM @narendramodi
41 ऑर्डिनेन्स फैक्ट्रीज़ को नए स्वरूप में किए जाने का निर्णय, 7 नई कंपनियों की ये शुरुआत, देश की इसी संकल्प यात्रा का हिस्सा हैं।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
ये निर्णय पिछले 15-20 साल से लटका हुआ था।
मुझे पूरा भरोसा है कि ये सभी सात कंपनियाँ आने वाले समय में भारत की सैन्य ताकत का एक बड़ा आधार बनेंगी: PM
इस वर्ष भारत ने अपनी आजादी के 75वें साल में प्रवेश किया है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
आज़ादी के इस अमृतकाल में देश एक नए भविष्य के निर्माण के लिए नए संकल्प ले रहा है।
और जो काम दशकों से अटके थे, उन्हें पूरा भी कर रहा है: PM @narendramodi
विश्व युद्ध के समय भारत की ऑर्डिनेन्स फैक्ट्रीज़ का दम-खम दुनिया ने देखा है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
हमारे पास बेहतर संसाधन होते थे, वर्ल्ड क्लास स्किल होता था।
आज़ादी के बाद हमें जरूरत थी इन फैक्ट्रीज़ को upgrade करने की, न्यू एज टेक्नोलॉजी को अपनाने की!
लेकिन इस पर बहुत ध्यान नहीं दिया गया: PM
आत्मनिर्भर भारत अभियान के तहत देश का लक्ष्य भारत को अपने दम पर दुनिया की बड़ी सैन्य ताकत बनाने का है, भारत में आधुनिक सैन्य इंडस्ट्री के विकास का है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
पिछले सात वर्षों में देश ने ‘मेक इन इंडिया’ के मंत्र के साथ अपने इस संकल्प को आगे बढ़ाने का काम किया है: PM @narendramodi
आज देश के डिफेंस सेक्टर में जितनी transparency है, trust है, और technology driven approach है, उतनी पहले कभी नहीं रही।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
आज़ादी के बाद पहली बार हमारे डिफेंस सेक्टर में इतने बड़े reforms हो रहे हैं, अटकाने-लटकाने वाली नीतियों की जगह सिंगल विंडो सिस्टम की व्यवस्था की गई है: PM
कुछ समय पहले ही रक्षा मंत्रालय ने ऐसे 100 से ज्यादा सामरिक उपकरणों की लिस्ट जारी की थी जिन्हें अब बाहर से आयात नहीं किया जाएगा।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
इन नई कंपनियों के लिए भी देश ने अभी से ही 65 हजार करोड़ रुपए के ऑर्डर्स प्लेस किए हैं।
ये हमारी डिफेंस इंडस्ट्री में देश के विश्वास को दिखाता है: PM
मैं देश के स्टार्टअप्स से भी कहूँगा, इन 7 कंपनियों के जरिए आज देश ने जो नई शुरुआत की है, आप भी इसका हिस्सा बनिए।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 15, 2021
आपकी रिसर्च, आपके products कैसे इन कंपनियों के साथ मिलकर एक-दूसरे की क्षमताओं से लाभान्वित हो सकते हैं, इस ओर आपको सोचना चाहिए: PM @narendramodi