248-year-old trigger for change in India’s defence capabilities
ORDNANCE FACTORIES’ DAY
ORDNANCE FACTORIES’ DAY celebrated on March 18 each year in India commemorates the establishment of the first Ordnance Factory in India at Cossipore, near erstwhile Calcutta, in 1801. This day is celebrated to honour the Indian Ordnance Factories’contribution in bolstering India’s defence capabilities.
India’s Ordnance Factories have a long history dating back to the times when the country was under British rule. In 1775, the British established a Board of Ordnance in Fort William, Calcutta, marking the official beginning of Army Ordnance in India. In 1787, a gun powder factory was established at Ishapore, near the then British capital of Calcutta. It started production in 1791.
In 1801 a Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Calcutta now known as the Gun and Shell Factory, Cossipore was established and production started on March 18, 1802. This was the very beginning of India’s first industrial Ordnance Factories, which are still operational to this day.
Ordnance Factories are an essential and integral part of India’s defence infrastructure and play a crucial role in ensuring the country’s national security. They provide the Indian armed forces with state-of-the-art equipment that helps them in their day-and-night vigil to defend the country’s borders effectively.
On this day, various programmes and events are organized by the IOFs to showcase their achievements, advancements in technology, and capabilities.The Ordnance Factories’ Day celebrations start with hoisting of the Tricolour and singing of the National Anthem. Then, each of the Ordnance Factories celebrates the day by displaying their products, such as rifles, guns, et al at different exhibitions.
MAIN EVENTS IN EVOLUTION OF OFS:
► 1801– Establishment of a Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Calcutta
► 1802– Production starts on March 18, 1802, at Cossipore
► 1906– The Administration of Indian Ordnance Factories comes under a separate charge as ‘IG of Ordnance Factories’
► 1933– Changed to ‘Director of Ordnance Factories’
► 1948– Comes under Ministry of Defence’s direct control
Indian Ordnance Factories were the only organization in the world which made the entire range of ammunitions from 5.56 mm to 155 mm and weapons from the 5.56 mm INSAS rifle to 155 mm x 45 calibre ‘Dhanush’ artillery gun system.
There were 41 Ordnance Factories in India. However, with effect from October 1, 2021, these 41 production units were subsumed into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The seven DPSUs are:
► Munitions India
► Armoured Vehicles Nigam
► Advanced Weapons and Equipment India
► Troop Comforts
► Yantra India
► India Optel, and
► Gliders India
These newly created entities are 100% owned by the government
QUALITY CONTROL OF PRODUCTS
Ordnance factories follow a system of multi-layer inspection, quality control and quality assurance before issuing final products to the three Services. The responsibility of inspection of input materials and stage/inter-stage inspection is shared between the factory personnel and Quality Assurance Establishments. An effective and efficient quality management system has been established in the factories leading to production of quality products meeting customers’ satisfaction.
Girish Linganna
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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
