Covid-19 Hits India’s Defence Production

The lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has brought defence production to a standstill in India. There are fears that the Ordanance Factory Board (OFB) may not be able to meet targets for this financial year on account of the 21-day closure, say sources. OFB supplies a a wide range of items, from rifles, howitzers, tanks and rockets to the defence forces.

Prior to the lockdown, when local authorities across the country had issued restrictive orders, OFB had planned to continue operations at 50% of the manpower that included production workers too. However, eventually a complete shutdown was observed in line with the general order from the government. Even though production of defence items has been stopped, some factories are now making sanitisers, gloves, masks and other protective gear needed for Covid-19 fight. This was following a call by the government for the OFB to step in.

Sources, including those in the top management, accept the lockdown will affect target achievement this fiscal. In some factories, unions have demanded that the month of April should also be included in financial year so the target can be achieved.

Source - The Times of India

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