Private participation not at the cost of ISRO’s capabilities: Staff in fresh note

A group of employee associations of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have asserted that private participation in the space sector should not weaken the capabilities of ISRO, nor should the technologies and facilities developed by it be transferred to private parties at "throwaway prices". This assertion comes in a fresh statement, following concerns raised in a letter to ISRO chairman V Narayanan on September 4.

The letter expressed worry about ISRO's future role, particularly after reports suggested the agency was being focused on a few strategic missions while ceding the rest to private companies. Despite these concerns, ISRO chairman reassured employees that there was no move to privatize the agency and that it would continue to build and strengthen its capabilities while partnering with the private sector to expand the space economy.

The employee associations, in their fresh statement, reiterated their stance that they are not opposed to private sector participation in the space sector, but it should not come at the cost of ISRO's core functions. They emphasized that private participation must strengthen national capability, not weaken ISRO's capabilities. The note from the Joint Action Council (JAC) of various employee associations also highlighted that technology developed with public money cannot become a source of private profit without adequate return to the nation.

They stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and a level-playing field. The note emphasized that while there is a legitimate need to increase the number of mission launches, mature technologies developed by ISRO, such as the LVM3 and the under-development NGLV, must remain with ISRO.