BENGALURU: For the first time since the government began opening India’s space sector to private industry six years ago, nine employee bodies at Isro centres representing thousands of staff under the Department of Space (DoS), have formally raised concerns over the direction and basis of the transition.

“Private participation in defined commercial activities can coexist with a strong, publicly owned Isro.

Terming technology developed by Isro a national asset, they said its transfer must be transparent, accountable, and consistent with strategic, safety and employment considerations.

Serving employees have an earned right to be informed, consulted and protected.

”“What will be the future mandated role of Isro — specifically, whether design, development, realisation, integration, testing and launch of PSLV, LVM-3, SSLV and successor vehicles will continue as Isro functions or will cease.

“Isro was built as a national scientific institution with public funds, public purpose and a public workforce.

Launch-vehicle design, realisation, integration, testing and launch operations are not merely ‘manufacturing contracts’. ”“We submit this in a constructive and democratic spirit. Our loyalty to Isro and to the national space programme isn’t in question.

Precisely because of that loyalty, we consider it our duty to seek clarity before uncertainty hardens into irreversible policy,” they said, adding that they will plan further course of action once the written reply is received.