TALKING POINT
Should engineers be given licences?

The proposed government move to introduce licences for engineers has polarised the professionals. Biswajiban Sharma puts the two diametrically opposite viewpoints in perspective, giving a bird's eyeview of what is in store for budding engineers.

"It will place Indians on par with engineers in the West"
Anil Bansal, Director, Majestic Pvt Ltd and CEO of Vastunidhi

WITH globalisation sweeping the world and more and more countries becoming members of WTO, it has become imperative to bring our engineers into the licensure fold. The government has come up with the radical measure to ensure that our engineers get a common international platform and are on an equal footing with their already licensed counterparts overseas. It is a well-known fact that IT and civil engineers make up the largest professional segment in the country. So, only after India puts in place a licensing regime, can engineers take up assignments abroad post-2005.

At present, even a draftsman can sign a 'sanction drawing.' So, this reform will check and help regulate the industry.

• It will definitely create two classes of engineers — licensed and unlicensed — but if we look at the brighter side, the employers will have a system or a criterion to choose the best talent. Only those having proper educational or technical qualifications will be allowed to practice the profession.

• It is surely in public interest. If a person were to lose his life on account of some structural defect, it would be possible to pin down the responsibility on the errant engineer. Also, disciplinary action can be expected against the culprit.

• We should be clear what we are expecting from the system. It is understandable if the industry prefers only licensed engineers. So, if the government is giving the AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education) the responsibility, then it should ensure that it comes up with a foolproof system of taking those into the periphery who are already qualified and working.

• Though on the face of it licensing appears to be a sheer wastage of time, effort and money as even for revalidation colleges will have to shell out Rs 50,000 or so, if the system is implemented properly it will ensure that Indian talent, which is so much in demand internationally, goes truly global.

• The Council of Architecture is recognised in most countries but where it is not, the architects have to meet some additional criteria. Just as Indian doctors have to take an exam in the USA if they wish to practice there. But once the AICTE takes over the registration, it will ensure that Indian architects are on the same footing as their foreign counterparts.

• The AICTE, as of now, does not have statutory support to enable it to take disciplinary action. Something should be done to remove this legal lacuna. Also, appropriate measures should be taken so that it does not trigger yet another licence raj regime.

"It will lead to waste of precious time and resources"
Satish Yadav, Director of the Dronacharya group of institutes

ENGINEERING is unregulated unlike other professions like law, medicine and architecture. The government's move to introduce licensing for engineers is intended to ensure that Indian professionals benefit from WTO regime's deadline of January-2005 for "cross-border movement of registered professionals". Though it will make it "obligatory for the registered engineers to adhere to prescribed etiquettes and code of ethics," in the Indian scenario undesirable practices will soon take over the regulatory system. Moreover, Indian colleges are already adhering to policies approved by the Central and state governments, which are enough to produce qualified engineers.

• Instead of categorising the engineers as licensed and non-licensed, a system should be introduced under which the colleges are ranked. The ranking can be on the basis of the kind of education being provided to the students. Moreover, if licenses are introduced now, the existing professionals will be at a disadvantage despite their experience and expertise.

• Though the licensing move will create a disciplinary jurisdiction and make it "obligatory for the registered engineers to adhere to prescribed etiquettes and code of ethics", if one goes by what is happening in other registered professions, like medicine and law, licensing has not improved things for the public and corruption is still all-pervasive.

• A licensed regime may not yield the desired results. In the ultimate analysis everything boils down to sound technical knowledge and individual potential of the engineer.

• It will be a time-consuming activity and valuable resources would be squandered. Moreover, it will be difficult to achieve by 2005 a licensing regime which takes care of emerging and already established engineers, which is the main reason for introducing this policy.

• In countries abroad, licensing procedures are adhered to stringently and unbiased performance-based licenses are issued to professionals, which ensure effective implementation of the system and keep a check on irresponsible and unethical behaviour affecting public interest.

• Indian engineers are ruling the roost overseas, especially in information technology. So, that is a clear indication of the respect and recognition that Indian professionals enjoy abroad. Thus, the skill and knowledge of Indian professionals is not subservient to any licensing policy. However, if such a policy is introduced in the post-WTO scenario, it will create an unfair distinction between licensed and non-licensed engineers.

• Moreover, it will be practically impossible to implement the licesnsing system in such a short span. Some leverage should be given to non-licensed engineers until uniformity is created.

• True professionals are created in institutions that inculcate a value system in the youth, which goes a long way in determining their actions in the real world. It's more important to create a social value system, which makes individuals morally liable towards society.