Days after asking the defence industries to be ready with a plan to ramp up production to the optimum level after the lockdown is lifted, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday stressed the need for India to become self-reliant and “net exporter of technology.” He also lauded the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO)for coming out with at least 50 items in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
Addressing the scientists of the DRDO on the National Technology Day (NTD) here through video conference, the minister stressed that there is no alternative to indigenous technology and indigenous manufacture. “We will be truly self-reliant only when India succeeds in becoming a net exporter instead of a net importer of technology,” he said. The National Technology Day is observed to commemorate the nuclear tests conducted by India in 1998 that symbolized successful achievements of home grown technologies.
While calling upon the country’s pool of experts to contribute to make India a technological powerhouse, Singh said the government and people fully support their future endeavours in this direction.
On the role of the defence sector in the national effort to fight the corona pandemic, the minister said defence organisations are tackling the challenges posed by COVID-19 using state-of-the-art technology. India’s defence forces and Research & Development efforts have contributed significantly in finding solutions to the challenges posed by this invisible enemy.
He added the DRDO has developed more than 50 products in the last 3-4 months, like bio suit, sanitiser dispenser, PPE kits through its continuous efforts to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. “The indomitable spirit of our defence industry has increased the opportunity for mass production of these high quality products in record time,” Singh said.
He said, “National Technology Day is an opportunity to take stock of our technological advancements and if we are to emerge as a technological force then we should know what to do.
This year’s National Technology Day 2020 was celebrated at the DRDO to commemorate and pay tribute to the dedication, determination, and sacrifice of scientists and engineers, who have worked for achieving a national technological identity with the success of Shakti-Pokhran 2. On this occasion, a webinar was held and a Presentation on DRDO technologies to fight against COVID-19 was given.
Member Niti Aayog and former DRDO chief V K Saraswat in his address said the DRDO must provide more focus on life sciences laboratories and “must revive work on bio-defence programme”. He also emphasised on the need for the development of more robotic devices where the DRDO has strong base. Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India K Vijay Raghavan emphasised the need of developing IT enabled technologies and applications.
DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy appealed to all to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation by providing cutting edge technologies for making the country strong and self-reliant. He also said during lockdown, products should be supplied all over the world adding “delayed delivery is no delivery.” The DRDO has developed 53 products to fight COVID-19, Reddy said and some of the systems were inducted in record time.