MoD cuts production target of Ordnance Factories upto 40 pc

IN another major blow to the Ordnance Factories, the Ministry of Defence has curtailed the production of ammunition upto 40 percent in different factories. Annual production target of Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK) has been reduced upto 40 percent. The cut in production target also reduced the standard man hours of 48-hours instead of current 51-hours.

It may be noted that, the Ordnance Factories’ employees had recently called -off nationwide strike after the assurance of Ministry of Defence to reconsider the proposal for corporatisation of Ordnance Factories. On the other hand, the curtailment of annual production targets of Ordnance Factories has created havoc amongst the officers and employees of Ordnance Factories.

Now the trade unions are preparing to start another protest against the curtailment of production target. Learning about the order of production curtailment, a delegation of trade union leaders met the General Manager of OFK, Ravikant Maheshwari, on Monday evening but could not get any appropriate reply from the senior administrative officer. Senior trade union leader and JCM-IV, Sharad Albal, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, informed that, the Government is duping the Ordnance Factories’ employees by making fake claims of considering their demands. On the other hand, Ministry of Defence has reviewed and curtailed the defence production without giving any concrete reason.

Trade unions will soon hold meeting to discuss further course of action for safeguarding the interest of Ordnance Factories. He added that, the new production order has disappointed the employees of Ordnance Factories and created fear of losing jobs. Sources informed that, the annual production target of 23 ammunition, including 30 mm, 40-mm cartridge, 81-mm grenade, 84-mm rocket, 125-mm cartridge, torpedo and 23-mm pyro has been cut down upto 40%.

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