Chennai, Sept 7:
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore has criticised the BJP-led Union government over what he described as growing job-security and livelihood concerns among employees associated with India’s space programme.
Tagore alleged that there were attempts to hand over parts of ISRO’s operations to private players and questioned whether the contributions and sacrifices of scientists and employees were receiving adequate recognition.
“While the same hands that launch rockets admired by the world are being forced to submit petitions and letters seeking job security, proper wages and livelihood,” Tagore said, questioning the situation.
He said India’s space programme had been built over decades through the efforts of scientists and employees working towards technological self-reliance.
Tagore pointed to India’s achievements in rocket launches, lunar and solar missions and its plans for human spaceflight, saying these accomplishments reflected the contribution of generations of scientists and technical personnel.
He alleged that the Union government was attempting to transfer an institution built through public investment and scientific effort to corporate interests.
Tagore also highlighted the demanding working conditions faced by scientists and employees, including long working hours, stress and the pressure associated with high-risk missions.
He questioned why political leaders regularly appeared alongside scientists during successful space missions but, according to him, their concerns over employment and service conditions did not receive similar attention.
Describing ISRO as an “identity of India”, Tagore said the Congress would oppose any move that, in his view, could undermine the public character of the country’s space programme. His comments were political allegations and were not accompanied by evidence in the report establishing a government decision to privatise ISRO.