BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which has been losing hundreds of design and management trainees over the last two years, had started hiring MTs & DTs in large numbers in 2005 after enduring agony, thanks to a nearsighted recruitment ban in the mid-80s. “We suffered in the past due to the ban, and now it’s hurting us more. We spent lakhs training these youngsters for an entire year, before posting them at divisions. They are even exposed to IITs and put through tailor-made training modules at reputed private firms,” an official with the human resources department (HRD) said.There are close to 10,000 officers (Grade-level) and 24,000 employees (Scale-level) in HAL working in centres spread across Bangalore, Nashik, Hyderabad, Korwa, Koraput, Kanpur, Lucknow, Barrackpore, Kasargod and Delhi. HAL wants to have a combined strength (officers and employees put together) of 39,000 when the new perspective plan takes shape.Sources confirmed to Express that HAL had moved many proposals to the Ministry of Defence in the past, seeking a hike in salaries on par with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). All the proposals were shot-down by the MoD on the grounds that it could have an impact on other public sector undertakings (PSUs).“Today, including DA and HRA, HAL Grade-1 officer gets a gross salary of around Rs 28,224; Grade-II Rs 36,736 and Grade-III Rs 46,144, while an officer holding equivalent positions in NTPC gets 20-30 per cent more,” sources added.HAL insiders are blaming the MoD for doing little to protect their young talent, being poached by private companies. “The MoD is encouraging private players in defence, but doing little to safeguard our talent. Private companies are hiring our ready-made man-power especially at junior levels.We can stop this trend only by paying them more,” sources said. When contacted in New Delhi, Manoj Sounik, Joint Secretary (Aerospace), MoD, avoided a reply saying he is not authorised to speak to the media.Sources said that during the exit interviews, many youngsters listed their woes fearlessly. “Challenging assignments and better facilities are two major factors. Some increments given to the lower grades were also withdrawn following the pay panel guidelines. Youngsters have to be handled with care. The top management is always fighting for their chairs, leaving the youngsters in no-man’s land,” sources said.Unaware of exodus: NayakHAL head A Nayak has been ducking the media ever since he took over in April 2009. When Express contacted him to find out the measures being put in to stem the outflow of youngsters, Nayak, who is retiring on October 31, said: “I am not aware of anyone quitting. I don’t have time to comment on these issues. I am busy in a meeting.”However, his colleague and Director Human Resources V M Chamola, a recent appointee in HAL, said, “We have taken measures to address this issue. When you compare the percentage with global aviation companies, our attrition rates are less and I don’t have the figures as I am in the middle of an appointment”.
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