Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 15
Joining the rest of the country in observing Engineer’s Day, the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Association (FONSESA) organized a programme commemorating the occasion at the NPWD Complex here in the state capital Kohima today.
Chief Secretary Nagaland, Pankaj Kumar who graced the programme as the chief guest, said the observance of Engineer’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the basics and the challenges of the engineering profession.
He stated that things move fast in the public sector and the engineers design, execute and manage engineering projects requiring new challenges and innovations. He said there are certain responsibilities that engineers have to undertake but underscored three main competencies which he feels are critical to an engineer’s success in his/her profession. He listed these as the competency of conceiving and designing a project well, the competency to supervise projects and the competency for overall project management. The bureaucrat pointed out that in the recent years, there have been instances that the DPRs of many projects were not prepared well which resulted in a huge cost on the state.
Kumar also said that a great part of success in engineers is proficiency in supervision, conducting regular and timely inspections to ensure that the projects are going well. He said most of the time, people tend to think that their responsibility is confined to the project at hand and forget to manage other aspects. Towards this, he cited the constraints of funds, and reminded the engineers that since the governments will not give them sufficient funds, they have to learn to manage and work with the constraints.
He also stated that he has noted some grievances put forward by FONSESA earlier and assured that the government will give proper thoughts on how best to address them. He further called upon the association members to give their best in their works as it is only the things which a person does well that holds him/her up.
On the occasion, the Chief Secretary also paid rich tributes to Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of India’s most influential and foremost engineers whose birth anniversary is commemorated nationwide as the Engineer’s Day annually.
FONSESA president, R Temsutemjen who highlighted on the significance of the day, called upon all the engineers to emulate the qualities of Visvesvaraya and sincerely contribute towards the development of the state.
Chief Engineer (T&G) Power, K Miacheo in his short speech stated that this was the second time the state is observing Engineer’s Day, the first being in 1987.
He said the day is meant for all the engineers to rededicate themselves to work for the people, and urged FONSESA members to strive, cultivate and promote the rich engineering ethics and culture, safeguard common interests and contribute towards all round development of the state. He also suggested that the federation must provide a common platform to promote the professional interest in various disciplines of engineering and for the members to exchange view towards improving proficiency in public service.
A host of officials and engineers from different departments attended the programme. Lanu Toy, a retired engineer who is a pioneering figure in the state’s engineering community, also graced the function.
A brochure on ‘Engineering Applications in our Daily Lives’ published by the FONSESA was also released on the occasion by the chief guest in commemoration of the Engineer’s Day.
