New Delhi: A High Level Official Committee (HLOC) of Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD) continued dialogue with employees’ federations/ associations to address their concerns regarding corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in New Delhi on June 25.
It is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package that the Government announced on May 16, stating its corporatisation will improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies.
Immediately after the announcement, the Committee headed by Additional Secretary in the Department along with senior Army officials had commenced dialogue process with employee federations and associations on June 5. The HLOC has been holding these meetings through video conferencing with OFB employees’ associations and federations.
The third such HLOC meeting was held on June 25 with three associations – All India Association of Non-Gazetted Officers (AIANGOs) of Ordnance & Equipment Factories and Quality Assurance Organisations; All India Association of Clerical Employees of Ordnance Factories (AIACEOF) and Indian Ordnance Factories Non-Technical Supervisory Staff Association (IOFNTSSA) wherein the intent of the Government to implement aforesaid decision with involvement of all the stakeholders was conveyed and suggestions were invited from the members of the associations on ways to safeguard the benefits and interests of employees in terms of wages, salary, retirement benefits, health facilities and other service matters while converting OFB into one or more 100 per cent Government owned corporate entities.
Suggestions were also sought on their concern regarding future orders and budgetary support needed from the Government for the new corporate entity or entities. Earlier, the HLOC met with three associations namely Confederation of Defence Recognised Associations (CDRA), Indian Ordnance Factories Gazetted Officers Association (IOFGOA) and National Defence Group-B Gazetted Officers Association (NDGBGOA) on June 5 and 16 and held discussions with two associations namely Indian Ordnance Factories Service Officers’ Association (IOFSOA) and Ordnance Factories Doctors Association (OFDA).
The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere. The request of the associations to hold more meetings with them was considered by the Committee headed by VL Kantha Rao, Additional Secretary, DDP, MOD and it was assured that the engagement with the federations and associations will continue.
Employees’ associations were represented by General Secretary M Johnson and P Eliyah, Executive member from IOFNTSSA; General Secretary SK Sachan and Ajay, Organising Secretary from AIANGOs and President DK Verma and HK Agnihotri General Secretary from AIACEOF.
