Privatising OFB: Defence ministry pushes ahead, workers push back

MoD announces appointment of consultants for corporatising Ordnance Factory Board; workers threaten indefinite strike from October 12

Moving ahead with a longstanding proposal to corporatise the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and its 41 factories dotted around the country, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday announced the appointment of private sector consultants that would advise the government on how to proceed.

“The department has selected KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd (Lead Consortium Member) with Khaitan & Co Ltd as consortium member, as the consultancy agency for the project,” the MoD announced on Thursday.

“The contract with the consultancy agency would be signed shortly,” it said, after which work would begin on corporatising the OFB.

The move is