16/08/2015
Agricultural Engineers Role in The Institution of Engineers (India),
By- Dr.Y.C.Bhatt, Past Chairman, IEI, Udaipur Local Centre
The Institution of Engineers (India) was registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 in the year 1920 and was formally inaugurated in 1921 by Lord Chelmsford, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India. The Institution of Engineers (India) was granted the Royal Charter of Incorporation 1935 by His Majesty the King George V of England in 1935, “to promote and advance the science, practice and business of engineering in all its branches in India”. Starting with this humble beginning, The Institution of Engineers (India) is now an unique professional body encompassing 15 engineering disciplines and with an overall membership of over 0.75 million. The Institution of Engineers (India) is the first professional body to represent India in several International Bodies, such as the World Mining Congress (WMC), the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), the Federation Internationale du Beton (fib), and the Federation of Engineering Institutions of South and Central Asia (FEISCA). It also has bilateral agreements with a number of professional societies across the globe. The Institution of Engineers (India) functions with and amongst the professional engineers, academicians and research workers and provides a vast array of technical, professional and supporting services to the government and the industries along with the academic and engineering communities. The Institution of Engineers (India) is the pioneer body to introduce, starting from 1928, non-formal engineering education programme, successful completion of which is recognized as equivalent to a degree in engineering by the Government of India, the Union Public Service Commission, the State Governments and many Public / Private Sector organizations in the country. The Institution of Engineers (India), with its headquarters in Kolkata, India, is administered by a National Council with the President as its Head, and operates through 104 State and Local Centers, located at capital cities and towns of industrial and academic importance all over the country, and five Overseas Chapters. The Secretary and Director General is the Chief Executive of the Institution. The fifteen engineering division presently attached to IEI are Aerospace, Agricultural, Architectural, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication, Environmental, Marine, Mechanical, Metallurgical and Material, Mining, Production, and Textile Engineering.
The Agricultural Engineering Division was formed in 1978 with the sincere efforts of Dr.K.N.Nag, then Dean of College of Technology and Engineering. It was the addition to other core engineering division of IEI to begin its journey for establishment of Agri Engg. The first initiation was done to recognize degree of undergraduate degree programme and initially degrees of eight colleges were recognized under the president ship of Colonel Bawa, The Institution Journal in Agri Engineering was also started. As per precedence of other division organization of National Convention and All India seminar also conducted by the Agri Engg Division every year with some financial support( Rs 5000 for one day workshop, Rs30,000 for seminar and Rs 1,50,000 for national convention) from IEI in order the give a common platform to researchers, academicians, professionals, field workers and associated industries to discuss the development required for the profession. A young engineer award is also being given every year with cash prize of Rs 10000 to promote young professionals. Till now 28 National Conventions and many All India Seminars have been organized.
