Need 1.2 million welding professionals by 2020

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‘Make-in-India’ Campaign has surged the growth prospects of the Manufacturing sector, but hue and cry of perennial skilled labour shortage has become vociferous in the automobile, construction, power & defence sectors.” – R. Srinivasan, President, The Indian Institute of Welding

There’s an alarming gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower in the country. If the infrastructure developments are in low ebb, the main reason is shortage of welding professionals. The country needs something like 1.2 million welding professionals including welders, cutters, fitters, equipment operators, inspectors and engineers by 2020. “In fact today a number of project contractors are importing welding and cutting operators from China., Russia & East European Countries,” revealed Mr. R. Srinivasan, President,The Indian Institute of Welding in a press meet in Mumbai on 15th Oct.

“Our country is in dire need of overhaul of the current practices and must embrace and adopt new technologies to ensure we achieve the 12th plan targets,” he added. “We have already made representations to the PM’s Office as well as to the Union Ministry for Skill Development to bring home the fact that our 12th plan targets of adding 90,000 MW power generation capacities and creating new construction assets of 52 lakh crores may all get derailed for lack of sufficient skilled workers.

The National mission of building 20 kilometres of new highways each day is already falling behind. The ‘Make-in-India’ campaign has surged the growth prospects of the Manufacturing sector, but hue and cry of perennial skilled labour shortage has become vociferous in the Automobile, Construction, Power & Defence sectors,”he added. Skilled welding professionals at all levels viz. pipe and plate welders, supervisors and welding engineers continue to be in short supply. The Union Government’s skill development machinery which targets to skill over 500 million Indians by 2022 must work to address the severe shortage in employable skills of the Indian workforce.

It is unfortunate that such a vital subject like Welding is not included in the curriculum of our engineering colleges. The Indian Institute of Welding (IIW) has offered to partner with the Union and State Government machinery to up-skill Indian youth and overcome the shortage of competency-certified welding workforce. New trained welders need to be recruited, and uncertified welders may need to be retrained for manufacturing jobs of the 21st century. Students including those with SSC certification may contact the IIW Kolkatta based HQ or closest regional branches to examine the possibility of a career in welding. The compensation for welders is said to be very healthy.

Many industries want to optimize their capital investments and rely on welders who have the ability to rebuild fairly old and worn out equipment. Such skills have become rare and are in great demand. “If you pursue welding, you will never be out of a job,” declares Srinivasan.

IIW established in 1966 at Kolkata, is today an active member of the International Institute of Welding. IIW has a membership base of 4000 plus professionals and 350 corporates. It is a nationwide non-profit making organization dedicated to foster the development of welding science, technology and engineering in India. The Institute is rendering yeoman service in the areas of education, certification, training and dissemination of knowledge and information – all related to welding.

The Institute has branches in 14 strategic locations across the country. With over 700 professional members, 120 student members and 70 corporate members, IIW Mumbai Branch is the largest branch of the Institute. IIW is holding a National Welding Seminar and WELD INDIA EXPO from 9th to 11th Dec. 15 at CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Vashi, Mumbai. Eminent speakers from CII, FICCI, and NABET (National Accreditation Board for Education and Training) are expected to participate in the seminar and deliberate on the relevant issues.

The event aims to showcase the latest in welding technology, products & systems used globally. IIW will sit with the Government officials and administrators of the State- run IIT’s to update their curriculum, match their syllabus and facilitate training with industry participation on welding technology.

The growth of welding industry is linked to the production and consumption of steel in the country. By 2019-20, the country’s steel consumption is expected to almost treble, touching some 220 million tons. This naturally means more industrial activities and dependence on welding and the need for more and more welding professionals. “Unless there’s a concerted effort now on, involving all professional bodies, industry, academia and the government, our ambitious growth targets will only be on paper,” cautions the IIW President.

– P.K. Balasubbramaniian

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