Gujarat facing sever shortage of welders: IIW

Ahmedabad

Claiming an estimated shortage of around 60000 welders in Gujarat in next seven years, the Indian Institute of Welding (IIW) today requested the state government’s skill development machinery to double up its effort to overcome the severe shortfall in this highly industrialized state.

Talking to newsmen, IIW president R. Srinivasan said that a number of project contractors in Alang, Jamnagar, Junagad and Rajkot have even imported welding and cutting operators from China, Russia and East European Countries. ‘Though Gujarat has over 525 Institutes offering Diploma Courses apart from the Engineering Colleges and Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) which impart skill training the shortage is there.The state government itself has projected an overall deficit of 10.67 Lakh skilled human resources for five year period between 2017 to 2022,’ he said.

Citing a study conducted in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Junagad, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Alang and Surat, the IIW president said that the state would face an estimated shortage of 60,000 welding professionals during 2017-22. ‘New welders need to be recruited, and uncertified welders be trained and certified at an early date. Many big industrial groups which have their manufacturing facilities in Gujarat agree to a looming crisis in terms of shortage of competency-certified welding workforce. The IIW is in talks with Reliance, Adani, Larsen & Tubro, Tata, Mahindra & Mahindra group of companies to understand their requirements of welding professionals,’ he said.

He said that the IIW has offered to partner with the state machinery to up-skill youth and overcome the shortage of competency-certified welding workforce. Training and skill up-gradation must match the challenges of manufacturing jobs of the 21st century. Towards this purpose IIW proposes to hold a National Welding Seminar and Weld India Expo from December 9 to 12 in Mumbai. Senior officials from CII, FICCI, Sector Skill Council’s and National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) will participate and address the seminar.

‘Wanted ads frequently use the phrase “general maintenance workers with emphasis on welding. The compensation for welders is very healthy, annual packages starting from 3 Lakh up to as high as Rs.40 Lakh. A dedicated welder will never be out of a job,’ Hiren Patel – Vice President IIW- Baroda added.

– DeshGujarat