Unsung Heroes: Engineers Behind Chandrayaan-3 Launch Pad Await Salaries for 17 Months

New Delhi, July 17, 2023: The remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission on July 14, witnessed by the world, has brought immense pride to the engineers involved. However, a disheartening revelation has surfaced that these very engineers, who constructed the crucial launch pad, have not received their salaries for a staggering 17 months.

Reports reveal that the engineers at Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) in Ranchi have been grappling with unpaid salaries for over a year. Despite this financial crisis, the firm managed to deliver the mobile launching pad and other vital equipment well ahead of schedule in December 2022.

HEC, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, plays a critical role in various projects. However, several media outlets have previously reported on the non-payment of salaries to the company’s staff, including thousands of workmen and executives.

Last November, IANS reported that officers of the company had not received their salary for a whole year, while employees faced an eight-nine month delay. The situation is especially concerning given that HEC has substantial orders from esteemed institutions like the Indian Space Research Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Railways, Coal India, and the steel sector. Yet, due to financial constraints, 80% of the work remains pending.

Despite their ordeal, the HEC personnel took immense pride in being part of such a crucial national project like Chandrayaan-3. However, the firm’s attempts to secure working capital of Rs 1,000 crore from the Ministry of Heavy Industries were met with disappointment, as the Union government declined to extend any help.

Furthermore, the HEC has faced challenges in appointing a permanent chief managing director for the past two and a half years.

While the Chandrayaan-3 mission was a triumph, the story of the unpaid engineers at HEC highlights the need for attention to workers’ welfare and the importance of securing funds for critical public sector projects.