"Swavalamban provides platform for innovative products for service of Indian Navy," says Naval chief

New Delhi [India], October 5 : Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Thursday said that the 'Swavalamban' initiative provides a platform for startups, MSMEs and smaller companies to come up with innovative products that are useful for the service of the Indian Navy.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said, "The Swavlamban has been a great success story as far as the Indian Navy is concerned. It gives a platform for startups, MSMEs and smaller companies to come up with innovative products that are useful for the service of the Navy."
When questioned about the Navy's resolve to develop 75 technologies taken at the 'Swavlamban' seminar last year, the Navy Chief Admiral replied that the promise to develop the 75 technologies has been more than fulfilled.
The Navy had resolved to develop 75 technologies taken at the 'Swavlamban' seminar last year, as part of its effort to be self-reliant, has been achieved. Last year, the Indian Navy promised to develop 75 technologies as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'.
"The promises made in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been more than fulfilled. The response from the industry was overwhelming. We got 1,108 responses out of which 300 plus were shortlisted and 118 contracts were signed, all in a span of one year," the Naval Chief said.
"We had promised 75 in a year, so we have gone way beyond that," the Naval Chief added.
On being asked about the status of INS Vikrant and its performance in the Indian Navy, the Navy Chief replied, "Vikrant got commissioned on September 2 last year. Any ship that gets commissioned, in the first year of completion, there is a guarantee of docking. That is the liability of the shipyard that it has to go through. Currently, Vikrant is undergoing the guarantee docking."
"In the first year, we completed the initial operational clearance of the carrier with all of the carriers. So now it is progressing well and it should get completed by the end of November, once that is done she will become operational," he added.
When questioned what is the follow-on of the INS Vikrant, one of the biggest symbols of Make in India, the Naval Chief said, "We are moving a case for the follow-on of this Vikrant. Over a period of time, in building Vikrant, considerable expertise and skill have been developed in the Cochin Shipyard, because it isn't easy to build an aircraft carrier."
"That expertise in both maintaining the carrier as well as to be used for the building of another aircraft carrier needs to be harnessed in good time, so therefore we have moved a case for a third aircraft carrier as a repeat order of the Vikrant which is in process as of now," he said.
On being asked about the launch of the unique cash card by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday, the Admiral Hari Kumar replied, "It is a singular achievement for the Navy in keeping up with the Prime Minister's vision of a cashless India, or a digital economy."
"You must be aware that on a ship, there are a lot of transactions that happen, whether you pay for buying an item, canteen, laundry, mess bill. So when you're doing that, you are paying with cash. This card system will enable you to make all these transactions through the card," he said.
"This is important in the navy because on board a ship there is no internet available. This is a unique card that helps you make transactions without any internet. You can preload it before you leave, while then all those transactions keep happening and when you come back in port, all your payments are regulated," Admiral Hari Kumar added.
"The cash card is of great utility and can be used in aircraft, remote areas and villages where there are no internet services," said the Naval Chief.