Engineering Education in India

How to attract and retain teachers in engineering education is real challenge which some how is not getting addressed despite spread of education. How should we meet this challenge?

Lack of Sensitivity for safety and convenience

It is true very many development works have been taken up in past and also being taken up now but these development projects have no sensitivity for convenience and safety of the people. Example is road construction how to get a new road made or repaired without minimum inconvenience to the people is never a concern for builders, engineers, bureaucrats and also politicians. Why this attitude? They need to learn that project is for future, but not at the cost of present. It is true that notices are invariably put up that "we are really sorry for the trouble" but that is not the solution. It is noteworthy that projects without such consideration of sensitivity for a commoner result in accidents and people loose life for these development projects of future. Good number of repair works, tube wells (left open) has taken lives of many and the solution up till now has been condolence message form president and prime minister or politicians.

Why reservation?
Reservation in jobs was considered as a possible solution for improving the social and economic conditions of the SC/ST and other backward classes and provisions to this effect were made in the constitution of India and accordingly the central and state governments have been pursuing the policy of reservation in various jobs categories. Obviously there seems to be nothing wrong with the objective behind the policy of reservation in jobs. But is this the only solution for improving the conditions? We as a society need to deliberate on this issue as the social and economic conditions of the SC/ST & other backward classes continue to be poorer as ever.
Has the reservation policy achieved the goal?
How far the reservation policy has improved the condition of SC, ST & Other Backward Classes has neither been assessed nor disclosed in public? Why so? Every policy is required to be reviewed to know its impact. Since this policy has been launched to improve social & economic condition of the backward classes it is necessary to evaluate it time and again to achieve the goal and also for resorting to other solutions.
Issues related to the reservation policy
We need to look in to the reasons, which have been responsible for poor social status and financial condition of SC/ST & OBCs. In my perception some of the reasons are as given below:
1. Low remuneration/compensation for their work by the society as compared to other professions
2. As a result of one above poor financial condition, obviously this had impact on their social status.
3. Society never respected those who put in physical labour in their work; this continues to be so even today.
4. As a result of the above three reasons it has not been possible for these classes to go for education in comparison to other classes of other society.
Now let us look in to the professions of these classes/casts. Besides sanitation, these classes have pursued agriculture and such other jobs, which involve physical labour in general. Are these jobs/professions not important for the society? Do these professions exist only in India? In my view every society/civilization needs all the professions. Why then the conditions of people pursuing professions involving physical labour are poorer in India only? Is cast system prevalent in the country responsible for it?
Now in the above back drop we need to analyze if only reservation policy in jobs and higher education could be of much help to these classes. Job reservation may motivate these classes to go for education and for change of profession. It may be good for a few but not for masses of the classes. Even if all are able to switch over to other professions and stop performing the physical input jobs will the society sustain? Obviously some others may have to go for these professions and then their condition will become poorer? In my view job reservation is not a permanent solution either for the classes or for the society. Foremost thing logistically needed is to reward them for their work appropriately. When we are following the development models of other countries we need to follow the price model for these professions also. A person involved in sanitation work in USA gets around US $3000/4000 per month which is compared to remuneration in a white-collar job over there. Why can’t we pay white-collar remuneration that is being paid here to a sanitary worker? But some how any government looks to an easy path whether it may give solution or create problem for the society. Minimum wage for labourer fixed by the government is one example. Once we increase the remuneration for these professions there will be improvement in their economic & social condition. Naturally then there will be spread of education in these classes.
As on date we have left the aspect of remuneration to the jobs/professions of these classes on market forces naturally when there is no education in these classes they are getting exploited by the upper classes economically and by political class emotionally. What is the solution? We need to evolve a policy for fixing remuneration for profession involving physical labour. Naturally effort has to be to make the professions attractive enough suiting to the requirement of qualification and competence needed for it another aspect that needs to be taken care is the compensation for opting low dignity profession. This compensation is a must to bring in the dignity for labour in our society. Now the question why should government come in to the way of market forces? It is because the downtrodden need to be protected. When government doesn’t hesitate in fixing petrol prices why should it not fix the prices for labour. If the prices appear high to the society let it evolve any other solutions. His may motivate all sections to go for the profession involving physical labour.
Besides remuneration another aspect deserving attention of the government and society is improve the working conditions of the jobs involving physical labour. We are keen to give technology input in al our white-collar professions we need to concentrate such inputs for sanitation work too. This on one hand will improve efficiency and on the other hand improve the working condition. Here I would like to quote that society and employers want that passengers in a bus should travel in air-conditioned atmosphere but the driver driving the bus should not get its advantage. Why so because he is labour class or just because he is a driver? How much we will save in it, by differentiating in the two classes? Similarly why should the truck driver’s cabin be made air-conditioned why do we expect him to drive in such hot temperatures when we are prepared to offer much better working conditions for the white-collar jobs? Once we start looking in to these aspects the self-respect would get automatically develop in persons doing such jobs. Today they think these comforts are meant only for white-collar jobs and their professions are inferior. Once the money and self-respect comes to the professions of these classes spread of education will be much faster. Other thing, which may happen, is that other class people may also go for these professions. It is true that initially there may be some resistance to such initiatives but ultimately the society will change itself to keep pace with globalization.
In the above back drop it emerges that job reservation is not the only solution other solutions are also important and may prove to be more effective and lasting and will help in spread of education to these classes so that they face the competition on their own strength and get rid of the stigma of reservation put on them while performing the job.
Reservation in higher education is it right?
It has been observed that reservation in jobs is with the objective of improving the social and economic conditions of the classes. But what is the objective of the reservation in higher education? Reservation in education at primary level, secondary level, and higher secondary level and if one qualifies then for graduation level may be all right for spread of education. But the same logic cannot be applied to engineering, medical and management education the reason is simple these studies involve continuous research at students own level to a great extent and can not be imparted entirely at the school/college level. Therefore if we pursue the reservation policy in higher education it may be of very little help to the student. Even if this is pursued government may not be able to provide the jobs to higher education pass outs. Obviously jobs for higher education pass outs globally are in private sector and they will always go for the quality. While referring to job opportunities only in private sector for higher education pass out I have totally ignored the aspect of job reservation in private sector as is being talked about by he government recently. In my perception to talk of job reservation in private sector in era of globalization, which is being, sought after by the government itself shows immaturity on part of the government. Other reason for this talk could be the vote bank politics. It may be recalled that George Bush when he was contesting the election for president ship had assured the population that if comes to power he may impose a ban on out sourcing to enhance employment opportunities in USA. Has he done it?
Effort therefore should to for strengthening the base of primary and secondary education in these classes so that they could be prepared well for the higher education.
Since India has the largest working force effort of the country should be to take its advantage in full rather then going in politics on such issues. It needs to be taken note that though the various governments have been showing lip sympathy with SC/ST & OBCs they have not done any good so far to them. These classes also need to be drawn to business/industry for which competence in education is a must and it is not possible to put them in these professions by simply offering reservation in allotment of land in industrial areas as has been attempted in pat by the governments. It is therefore necessary to create an environment so that all professions are interest to all the classes of the society depending upon the capability of an individual thus spread of primary and secondary education is the only solution, which is not easy, and it needs a good and sustainable effort by all concerned.

Impact of on going recession on IT industry in India

I believe that recent downturn can offer an opportunity to apply our IT resources & expertise to address the needs of the country. These may not be as rewarding or profitable as the overseas projects are but they could provide a strong cushion against the vagaries of global economy. In addition to utilizing the workforce that may be available now, it may also help improve the overall productivity and efficiency of the economy which will help the IT industry once the global slump is over and new opportunities open up. Some of the areas I believe offer such opportunities are security, infrastructure and governance.

What is the justification of red lights on cars?

Why our politicians, judges and bureaucrats want that there should be a red light on their cars? It has been learnt that there is always a tussle among these people for seeking a red light on their cars why this mentality? Do they wish that they should appear to be different then normal people or is it for safety of their car? If reason happens to be to distinguish from normal people then we need to know how they are different and what do they wish to show by this difference? Is it for getting noticed that they are moving like a VIP or just that they are superior? Why we are encouraging this in our society which already stand fragmented, for so many reasons. If the purpose is get attention and salute from the policeman posted on the crossings then also it is not proper. In any way it does not seem to be good for them as well as for the safety of people on road. If the purpose is to ensure safety then also it works against their own safety as the car of a VIP can be easily noticed by the person who wishes to hurt them. It is noteworthy that a red light with siren is necessary only on an ambulance so that it gets noticed and gets its way for hospital to save a life. But unfortunately misuse of the red light and siren has created a situation that even ambulances do not get way and people loose their lives.

Pathetic Scenario in Primary Education in India

Primary education and its quality is very important for building the society, central government as well as all state governments have been talking about it since independence but unfortunately neither the education has reached to all nor its quality has improved. Even today the governments are making efforts to increase the number of schools, number of teachers but quality is not in consideration at all. With the result, good number of private schools has come up all over the country and those who can afford are getting the education. If we look in to implications of coming up of these private schools on one side they are providing education but on the other side they are creating a difference in quality of education among different segments which is reason for fragmentation of society. Once we all agree that good primary education is a must for society then why we should not ensure the quality for it in all government run schools. Governments may give a good number of reasons for lapses on part of schools and teachers there in but lack of vision on part of the government is the only reason. Government should create ideal infrastructure and ensure good teachers for a few sample schools and then seek help from society in neighboring areas to support and manage the schools. Once this experiment/sample school succeeds more and more such schools need to be promoted. We need to take this as challenge so that all students in society start preferring government schools in the locality where they live. When students of different segments of society would study together every one would care for the quality of education in such schools. There may be some difficulties in beginning but solutions could be found once we go ahead with this on pilot scale