|
|
|
|
|
| HOME | NEWS | SPECIALS | |||
|
ELECTIONS '98
|
|
|
|
How Readers reacted to Admiral J G Nadkarni's last column
Date sent: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 22:02:50 EST It is amazing that Admiral Nadkarni talks such incoherent stuff. Being a former senior member of the defence establishment, he should have evoked a more coherent articulation. Ninety per cent of the defence budget is taken up for clothing/ feeding/ housing servicemen and maintaining the existing equipment because of the Pay Commission recommendations -- which increased servicemen's salaries, though they are nowhere near their civilian counterparts salaries. Obviously, this leaves little for the new battle gear. And our admirable Admiral Nadkarni suggests that we need to call the bluff of defence expenditure as this expenditure does nothing for the economic or social development of India. Thank god we don't have Admiral Nadkarni anymore as one of our defence chiefs. No wonder with such people at the helm in the past, India has been getting bulldozed by all and sundry countries.
Date sent: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 19:18:33 -0500 I congratulate Admiral Nadkarni for being a pragmatist and realist on the defence budget. I wonder if he ever presented such a viewpoint to the government while he was in office! I agree with him on the need for manpower reduction or at least a freeze in the armed forces. Today's world is strongly technology driven, especially so, the combating world. Also defence is as much psychological as it is material. For example, the mere possession of nuclear arsenal could act as a strong deterrent to any external aggression. It is the facade of military preparedness that matters in today's world. Having the right technology with a much smaller strength might give the appearance of a stronger fortress. And within the strong walls of the fort, the populace could concentrate on the real tasks for the betterment of its community. Technology is important; but technology also has a big price tag. The necessary technology must be developed in-house. Indian scientists/ engineers are extremely capable. Special technology initiatives must be undertaken, and as far as possible, the civilian world including the private sector must be involved. This would also stimulate the industry in pioneering advanced technologies. This would immensely help them in becoming internationally competitive. This is also a chapter from the story of American success. Indians have ample skills. If only they had the right attitude. Navin Khadiya, Piscataway, NJ
Date sent: Sun, 5 Apr 1998 03:26:42 -0400 Please try and keep it simple. I have lived in the US for the past six years, and it's easy for me to understand what 300 billion dollars means. But 300 billion rupees and 300 million rupees? What is that? Where do you live that you don't know lakhs and crores? Is it just me or is it collective wisdom at play here: that the target audience will understand billion better than rupees? Pray respond. Ashish Chandra
Date sent: Sun, 5 Apr 1998 09:38:44 -0400 At least, I'm able to find one article doing constructive analysis, without any emotions attached to it. It's high time to think about the expenditure of the armed forces, as nations around the world are becoming economic powers rather than military powers. It's high time we started thinking how our money is utilised efficiently by the government. Vasu Rengarajan
Date sent: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 08:05:20 -0700 The Admiral is right when he says the defence budget has not helped the poor man on the streets. We are partially to blame for the short-sightedness in developing our own defence productions. Many inventions from the defence industries have trickled for civilian use the in USA. India should privatise the defence industry and make it a money maker in the private hands. The Army Corps of Engineers should be used during peace time to find pet projects to provide clean water, toilets and basic sanitary facilities to the surrounding areas of the defence compounds. Of course the poor have to produce less poor, we are breeding ourselves to poverty in every state, and any project fails to meet any statistical goal because of the increase in population. We have to resurrect Sanjay Gandhi to implement the compulsory family planning scheme. We Indians don't know when to STOP.
Date sent: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 15:28:15 -0500 Retired Admiral Nadkarni's article was a very informative one. It underlines where our priorities should be. It's about time we stop fooling ourselves and face the truth.
Date sent: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 10:47:35 -0700 I do feel that India should carry out missile tests in order to stabilise in the field of missile technology. The only missile to be satisfactorily tested so far has been the Prithvi. I suppose the Agni missile tests haven't been so successful as stated. It is supposed to have a range of 800-1300 km. The missile programmes (Agni, Prithvi, Trishul, Nag) were on a positive exponential trail when Dr A P J Abdul Kalam was leading the efforts at defence laboratories at Hyderabad. I don't think, after his departure (as director), the DRDO has made any significant progress in missile R&D. I don't think increasing the defence budget will work any magic in the defence R&D. Most of our defence labs don't have good management (technical and managerial), and then there is a continuous outflux of scientists/ engineers to the private sector. What is the solution? No quick one. There was a time when best scientific/ technical brains were in the DRDO and the CDOT. Has anybody addressed the issue why most of them have left? Every year we get a new defence minister who makes big statements, allocates more funds and that's all. The problem is not being addressed at the grass root level. There's plenty to write on the state of affairs, but who's going to give a damn??? Alok
|
||
|
HOME |
NEWS |
BUSINESS |
CRICKET |
MOVIES |
CHAT
INFOTECH | TRAVEL | LIFE/STYLE | FREEDOM | FEEDBACK |
||