We have to build a tolerant, harmonious, peaceful India: President Pranab Mukherjee

 The nation we are to build has to be tolerant, harmonious and peaceful where the last person feels a part of the narrative of the country, President Pranab Mukherjee today said.

Addressing a batch of probationers of Indian Ordnance Factories Service at Rashtrapati Bhavan, he said the nation which “we are to build as civil servants, technocrats, scientists, educators and thinkers, has to be an India which will ensure a decent and fulfilling life to all its citizens”.

“It has to be a swachh India, swasth India, a digitally-empowered India, educated and skilled India and a tolerant, harmonious and peaceful India where the last person feels a part of the narrative of the country. My government is taking many initiatives in this regard,” he said.

Never forget that with every failed bullet, the life of a soldier defending the country is at stake, Mukherjee told a group of probationers of Indian Ordnance Factories Service of 2014 (II) and 2015 (I and II) batches as he underlined the need to be self-reliant in weapon system.

“...while trying your managerial and technical skills, never ever forget that every failed bullet or weapon, the life of a solider is at stake who is just performing the call on duty for the safety and integrity of this great country,” the President said.

He said that despite economic slowdown across the globe, “we have registered the highest GDP growth in last fiscal”.

“We must graduate to be self-reliant in weapon system and armaments so that we can build a safe, secure and progressive nation of our dream,” he said.

Mukherjee told the group that their work is not about producing arms and ammunition only, it is about giving quality products, ensuring timely delivery and strengthening the hands of our armed forces, paramilitary forces and police forces.

He said “we are working to ensure that our armed forces will be equipped with the most capable and sophisticated armaments in the world. The ordnance factories must lead these initiatives.”

“I am delighted to know that Indian Ordnance Factories Organisation has registered the highest all-time turnover of Rs 14,132 crore in 2015-16 against the target of Rs 13,500 crore set by the Defence Ministry... I am sure, OFB will reach the set target of Rs 20,000 crore by 2017-18,” he said.

He said Defence Procurement Procedure has been streamlined with a focus on indigenously designed, developed and manufactured weapon systems and platforms and Defence Production Policy has changed with the concept “Make in India” with FDI limit increased to 49 per cent.