Dr D V Kapur, former Founding Chairman & MD, NTPC and Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT-Madras, were presented with Eminent Engineer’s Awards instituted by Engineering Council of India (ECI). The awards were presented by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu at the 14th Engineering Council of India Foundation Day & Eminent Engineers Award Ceremony held recently. Dr Kapur was honoured in the Industry category for his visionary leadership in systems oriented management of power sector with technology innovations and in dissemination of project management culture in industry and infrastructure and Dr Jhunjhunwala in Research/Consultancy category for his contributions in carrying out numerous technological innovations and commercialisation towards making Telecom, IT and Power available and affordable to Indian people and for being the pioneer in promoting industry-academia interface and university based incubation in India. Shri Suresh Prabhu also gave first five Senior Professional Engineer Certificates to the recipients. Registration of Professional Engineers on voluntary basis has been recently initiated by ECI.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that Dr D V Kapoor and Prof Jhunjhunwala are living examples of what can be achieved through vision, planning, hard work and effective leadership. He stressed on the increasing importance of greater professionalisation of the fraternity and called upon the gathering to come forth and contribute to government’s flagship programs like “Make in India”, “Digital India” and “Skilling India”. He said that to plan and implement projects, we require high quality engineers. Expressing his appreciation, the minister said he was glad to know that ECI, along with its member associations, has initiated a system of Registration of Professional Engineers who are experienced and capable, and are recognised after proper screening. Such a voluntary effort by ECI should help in strengthening the engineering profession and getting it necessary recognition in the society till an Act of Parliament provides legal backing, as in other professions.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kirit Parikh, Chairman of the Jury outlined the process of selection of Eminent Engineers. Dr Uddesh Kohli, Chairman, Engineering Council of India gave a brief background of the efforts made by ECI in getting an Engineers Bill to recognise and regulate the profession, similar to other profession. The draft bill is presently with the Ministry of HRD.

Engineering Council of India (ECI) was incorporated on April 4, 2002 as an apex body of the engineering profession in the country under the patronship of the then Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, by coming together of 24 professional organizations/institutions of engineers to work for the advancement of engineering profession in the country. Today, the membership of ECI stands at 32 Associations/Institutions of Engineers. Since its inception, ECI has taken up several important issues concerning the engineering profession such as Engineers' Bill for the regulation of engineering profession, international mobility of Indian engineers, and reform of engineering education for the better employability of engineers. ECI also brings out a quarterly newsletter – The Indian Engineer.