The Hindu Business Line : Attrition major worry for DRDO labs

Hyderabad, March 10 As India aims high in technology development in the strategic Defence sector, an alarming attrition of its bright, young researchers from its key laboratories stares in its face.

The epicentre for the high turnout is located now in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and partly in New Delhi, where the top laboratories in electronics, missile development, software development etc of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) are situated.

For the DRDO which has a 7,500 strong scientist base in its 52 lab network, this rising attrition has emerged as a major worry, despite the fact, that the establishment had been attracting large number of youngsters to its labs.

Worry aspect

Why the worry? According to a top Defence scientist, it was true that the DRDO was getting lot of applicants, but at a recent campus recruitment at one of the major IITs, there was just a solitary applicant for a position compared to scores to the big MNC’s that are setting up research and design base in India in aerospace engineering.

Take for example, another instance, where a large laboratory could successfully recruit 20 scientists for its projects, but it suffered an outgo of 25 scientists in the year. The trend is not very encouraging say several Director’s of labs spoken to by Business Line.

What does the Chairman, Recruitment Advisory Committee (RAC), of DRDO, Dr K.V. Raghavan, have to say on this phenomenon?

Yes, the attrition rates are high in electronics, mechanical, computer sciences, aerospace etc. with average ranging between 17-22 per cent. But, well aware of this fact, the DRDO has been recruiting higher numbers in the beginning itself, he said.

Recruitment

Keeping in mind another big challenge confronting the DRDO — nearly 3,000 senior scientists retiring between 2005-10, the organisation has been recruiting an average of 500 scientists since 2002. The strategy is being continued.

The IITs, NITs and the top rung universities are the catchment for the large recruitment of young scientists for the DRDO. In addition to an All-India exam, campus recruitments, video interviews for non-resident Indians (NRIs) and direct hiring are being pursued, he told Business Line.

Initial training

While the DRDO does remain a good draw for the initial grounding, given its rich infrastructure and equipment, the growing worry, is also the exit of scientists with 1-3 years experience, say some Director’s.

This is attributed to the tough selection process and quality training and experience gained by the scientist in DRDO. They become easy targets for MNCs. Asked this question, Dr Raghavan said a career development programme for scientists has been put in place.

This includes external registration for Ph. D. programme. About 75 are selected for Master’s and Ph.D. every year. About 100 are being sent to reputed Indian institutes to do M. Tech also. Next, the awards for young scientists has been increased to 12 now, he added.

The DRDO has also for the first time formulated good recruitment practices (dos and don’ts). This also includes a ‘Virtual committee formation system’, which facilitates the formation of a selection committee depending on the need, Dr Raghavan said.

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