Central R&D institutes survive attrition threat

BANGALORE: At a time when high attrition appears to be the norm in all knowledge-driven sectors in India, central research institutes continue to be an exception. Attrition level in organisations such as ISRO, DRDO and HAL is as low as 1-5%, compared to the rates in other knowledge industries like IT and ITeS, which is around 20-25% and over 40%, respectively.

Also, there is an increasing trend of people moving from IT/ITeS sectors to research institutes, especially in Bangalore, says a city-based recruiter.

HAL employs 30,000 people. Out of this, 350 have quit in last four years, which works out to an attrition rate of about 1.1%. Sanjeev Sahi, director (personnel) of HAL, says: “This year the recruitment has been the highest.

HAL has inducted around 550 management trainees in June ‘06.” As of now, only two people out of 550 have quit. Mr Sahi adds: “When we lose trained officers who work on critical design and R&D projects, it affects the organisation. Our officers are poached mainly by global aviation majors.”

ISRO has about 16,200 people of which 11,000 are in scientific and technical categories. Overall attrition rate in the organisation is less than 5%, including those who are retiring from service.

ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair says: “Our well-planned recruitment strategy, including comprehensive induction training and careful placement strategies, have improved the retention rate. The attrition of engineers and scientists mostly happen in the departments of IT, electronics and telecommunication within the first few years of service but ISRO overcomes this problem by planning the intake and keeping a large reserve.”

DRDO is upgrading personal knowledge and skills of employees to retain people. W Selvamurthy, chief controller of HR at DRDO, says: “An incentive package is under consideration by the Centre for officers, which could include performance-based increments, allowance for additional responsibilities and performance-linked allowance.”