Kozhikode: Dr E Sreedharan laments low quality of engineers
A recent national survey had said that out of the qualifying engineering graduates, only 20 per cent are employable.
Kozhikode: Metroman Dr E. Sreedharan has deplored the poor standard of engineers in the country. "We are producing too many engineers, but what's the quality," he asked.
Dr Sreedharan, who was inaugurating the 'Engineers' Day' celebration at UL Cyber Park here on Tuesday, flayed the administration for the lack of a proper regulatory body to certify engineers in the country.
"Engineers have to play a dominant role in the economic growth of the country. But look at how the profession is being practised in the country," he said.
A recent national survey had said that out of the qualifying engineering graduates, only 20 per cent are employable. Thirty per cent of them have to be trained before employing and 50 per cent are not just employable, he pointed out.
"Engineering ethics is important in nation-building. One-and-a-half lakh people die on the roads a year due to poor engineering. It is not the number but the quality that matters. Attitude, ethics, values and principles are more important," he said.
Due to the absence of a statutory regulatory body for engineers, all graduating engineers could practise, resulting in repeated accidents, he said.
Dr Sreedharan had written about these shortcomings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and on the basis of his letter, a draft of the professional engineers Bill is being prepared. The committee is headed by M.S. Ananth, former director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.
The first draft of the Bill, aimed at regulating engineering practices, has been submitted to the ministry, which is reported to have recommended changes.
Dr Sreedharan said many bridges in the country were in worse condition than that of Palarivattom bridge.
Dr A. Achuthan, environmentalist and engineer, was honoured at the event. He opined that engineering for change should be for sustainable change.
The event jointly organised by the Institution of Engineers India (IEI) Kozhikode centre and Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society was attended by over 200 engineers. Technical sessions were held as part of the state-level workshop titled 'Engineering for Change - Rebuild Kerala.'
IEI Kozhikode centre chairman K. Bhaskaran presided over the event. Secretary C. Jayaram, ULCCS chairman Remeshan Paleri, group CEO Raveendran Kasthuri, UL Education director Dr T.P. Sethumadhavan and ULCCS CGM (projects) Rohan Prabhakar spoke on the occasion.