Nasscom predicts shortage of 5 lakh professions by 2010

CHENNAI: Nasscom

today predicted that the IT sector would face a shortage of five lakh

professionals by 2010, and expressed grave concern over the non-availability of

qualified manpower for the industry.

Delivering his key note address at the Nasscom HR Summit in Chennai, the

industry body's President, Kiran Karnik, said that it the shortage would not

mean lack of manpower, but the 'employability' of those people who would be

passing out by 2010, 'which is not very too far.'

“The IT

and ITeS companied require not only people with technical skills but also soft

skills. For solving this problem, there needs to be an interaction between the

Industry and the academia, which has already been initiated,” he said.

Stating that though the country had embarked upon economic reforms, thought

was not given to "drastic educational reforms", leading to the present

situation, he said, stressing on the fact that, academia should be reformed

completely.

“Universities should be removed from "all clutches" and be given

full autonomy in framing curriculum, paying for best faculties and charging the

fees also,” he said blaming the 'Indian educational bureaucracy' for the

present scenario.

"It is ridiculous that the universities should get the permission of

University Grants Commission in New Delhi to start new courses. This attitude

should be removed," he said further.

Karnik

said that innovation and creativity would be the key leaders in driving the

business in the coming years and they should also be the key for the research

and development.

"Liberate the universities and give them freedom and autonomy. This will

not also bring foreign exchange to the tune of 3 billion dollars,” he said.

Karnik was also critical of the present education system. Only a few

educational institutions are producing quality students, he said.

Expressing concern over the non-availability of quality teachers in the

universities and colleges, he said the best of the students went to serve the

industry. The industry should come out with innovative ideas to retain talent in

the teaching profession, which alone could be an answer to the problems, he

said.

"Centers of Excellence should be created in several parts of the

country, where the students from abroad could pursue education. This would bring

in lot of foreign exchange," he said adding right from the 1950s there were

only 6 IIMs

and 8 IITs

for such a big country such as India.

Talking on the occasion, Tamil Nadu government IT secretary C Chandramouli

said the state would soon come out with a new IT and ITeS policy.

"The industry should give inputs to the government for 'actionable

plans' and incorporation in the new policy," he said, adding that unless

it is done there was no point of talking about Chennai being made on the

sidelines of the Silicon Valley.

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