Defence Secretary, Mr. Giridhar Aramane (1988-batch IAS officer), inaugurated the National Symposium and Industry Meet by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on “Emerging Technologies in Infrastructure Development” in New Delhi. The DRDO along with the Armed Forces, academia, and industry shall participate in this two-day event aimed at upholding dialogue, exchanging knowledge and exploring innovative approaches to address the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies in infrastructure development in line with the centre’s profound vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
The Defence Secretary elucidated the need to achieve self-reliance in every field to deal with future challenges. He stated that India is a country with a significant percentage of youth, and self-reliance shall ensure gainful employment to them. Stressing the importance of “Aatmanirbharta” in defence, Mr. Aramane asserted that there is no trusted trend in geopolitics, and India cannot depend on other countries for its security & safeguarding of its national interests. According to him, self-reliance will help the country take giant strides on the path of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Highlighting the emphasis being laid by the Government on infrastructure development along the borders, the Defence Secretary exhorted the infrastructure firms to contribute to further strengthening the apparatus. He added that while the Armed Forces personnel are being provided with the latest weapons/equipment, the private sector should contribute to bolstering the infrastructure set-up in the border areas. He referred to the Vibrant Villages Programme which aims to motivate people to stay in their native locations in border areas, and urged the firms to set up a separate section, within their respective organisations, which focuses on development in far-flung areas.
Dr. Samir V Kamat, the incumbent Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, emphasised the importance of infrastructure in the development of a nation. He stated that India is witnessing phenomenal growth in the field of technical infrastructure, which is required to maintain the country’s strategic deterrence. He said, “It’s time to explore ways to incorporate the latest technologies in our technical infrastructure. We have made a good start, but work needs to be done to catch up with the best practices.”
Mr. Aramane also inaugurated the industry-partner exhibition, organised on the sidelines of the event, showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and products developed by the various industry partners. A symposium souvenir and Research & Development Construction Establishment Work Procedure 2024 were also released during the event.
