Members in the lok Sabha Friday raised issues of achieving self-reliance in Defence, low allocation to the important area of family planning and upgradation of human resource, technology, professionalism and services of Doordarshan (DD).

Answering during Question Hour in the lower House, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said hundred per cent self-reliance was not possible and that it was not economical to manufacture all component in the country. “The cost is too high... some component not to be manufactured  in the country and rather kept in stock...”, he said. The Minister, however, gave figures saying import of arms has been rapidly reduced as the same is being  produced domestically.

He said this in response to a supplementary on by when India will be 100 per cent self-reliant in defence production.

 Parrikar said to attain a high degree of self sufficiency, 70 per cent was a good figure. He, however, did not specify as to whether India has achieved 70 per cent self sufficiency.

 Referring to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, he said under the ‘Make one’ programme, Government funds 90 per cent of the project cost and the manufacturer has to develop the item to the satisfaction of the forces within two years. If that happens, then the Government buys that item. Under ‘Make two’, the industry puts its money to produce an item which, if found satisfactory, is purchased by the forces.

Ranjeet Ranjan (Congress) while appreciating  DD’s  performance asked the Government to upgrade Doordarshn’s  network. The Minister of State in Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said DD was going innovative and Government was expanding its regional network, upgrading the technology and professionalism and would also raise the pay scale of its employees.

During zero hour Meenakshi lekhi (BJP) raised the issue of low allocation of Budget for the important subject of family planning. She said barely 2 per cent is allocated to the family planning which is too little. She said high attention should be given to the issue of population control.

Saugata Roy (TMC) referred to a  report of the Association of Democratic Reforms that noted that an audit of the parties has revealed “a strange thing” that the income is mostly from unknown sources.

The  MP said the Congress income in 2013-14 was Rs 598 crore while that of BJP was Rs 673 crore. While 83 per cent of the Congress income is from unknown sources, the percentage as regards BJP is 73 per cent.