‘Only merit brings profit’
Professional skill enhancement programme at NITK
Though the corporate sectors are not biased against SC/ST/OBC students, they (corporate sectors) feel that only merit brings profit, opined Commissioner (Central Excise and Service Tax), LTP Unit (Chennai), Naresh Penumaka.
Speaking after inaugurating professional skill enhancement programme for SC/ST/OBC/ physically handicapped students of NITK, Surathkal, organised by the NITK here on Monday, he said the HR policy of the corporate sector is lackadaisical.
He said prior to liberalisation, more than 80 per cent of the investment in the country was carried out by the government. However, after liberalisation, more than 80 per cent of the investment are in the hands of the private players. The liberalisation policy is not liberal to the students from SC/ST/OBC. The policy is only liberalised for the businessmen.
It has provided tax concession to profit making companies.
“Though corporate sectors have corporate responsibilities, they spend money in plantings the saplings or white washing the government hospitals as part of the corporate responsibility activities,” he lamented.
“About 80 per cent of the population among SCs and 21 per cent of the population belonging to OBCs live below poverty line. The Corporate sectors should come forward to help those students from BPL families financially. Many students from poor background do not get job immediately after the completion of the degree. The corporate sectors should help such students in getting employment. Corporate sectors have a greater responsibility towards the deprived section of the society,” he added.
Mangalore Commissionerate Commissioner of Income Tax B S N Prasad said upgradation of knowledge and enhancing professional and communication skills are essential for a student and a institution to maintain quality. “It is unfortunate that the society discriminated few sections of the people. No country can development unless we take everyone along the path of progress and development.”
A World Bank report states that only 57 per cent of the engineering graduates in India are employable. He urged the students to give up negative feeling and attain self confidence.
NITK Director Prof Sandeep Sancheti said the professional skill enhancement programme for SC/ST/OBC/ physically handicapped students will be a regular feature in NITK. “We will try to invite students from neighbouring institutions to the programme in the future.”
Centre for Research and Education for Social Transformation (CREST) Coordinator Vinod Krishnan said few students lack skills which industry demand. The 21-day in-house programme consists of three modules designed to address the issues faced by the students during their placement. The first module will try to enable the candidate to carryout self analysis, emotional quotient, team building, style of leadership, conflict resolution, negotiation, understanding power politics, opportunities in emerging sectors, career planning etc.
Similarly, the second and the third modules will cover English communication skills and theatre, which will improve trust building, ensemble building, voice modulation, shedding of inhibitions, body flexibility, verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. The modules will be covered though 168 sessions of 75 minutes each. Registrar Prof Govindaraj M was present.
