We could do with some generosity of builders

Dr Indu Shahani, Sheriff of Mumbai Guest of Honour at Construction World Annual Awards 2011A doyenne in the field of academics, Dr (Mrs) Indu Shahani has over three decades of teaching experience at the college and university level. Shahani is Principal of HR College of Commerce & Economics and was appointed Sheriff of Mumbai in 2008. She is now serving her third term. Guest of Honour at the 9th Construction World Annual Awards 2011, Shahani talks about the need for building more schools and colleges in India and for bringing in skilled workmen to the industry.When I see those beautiful ads in newspapers that promise to provide customers with their dream homes, I wish these developers could give us dream schools and dream colleges. Recently, when Prof Casper of Stafford University visited my college, he was amazed to see that it houses so many students in such a small space, while his college houses around 6,000 students in 8,000 acre of land. It's not something of which I would like to be proud. I think we could do with some generosity of builders. The supply and demand for educational institutes in India is such that if we do not educate our millions, there are bound to be social issues. By 2020, we would need around 1,000 more universities to educate our youngsters. Second, we do not pay enough attention to the skills required in this industry. In 2020, we'll require around 86 million people to be working in this industry. We'll need around 33 per cent more skilled people. We are not doing enough justice to higher education in the industry. We need more skill-building colleges like those in Australia. Builders should come forward to build more schools and colleges, including community colleges like the ones abroad. If you need expertise, we are there to help you. Together, we can strive to set up new educational institutes in India, which I think is the need of the hour.