The Institution of Engineers (India), Andhra Pradesh State Center organized the above captioned event at Sri Sesha Sai Kalyana Vedika, MG Road, Vijayawada on Friday, the 09th November, 2018 which culminated successfully. More than 150 persons participated in the above occasion. Shri Nara Lokesh, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh was the Chief Guest and addressed the members on ENGINEERS ROLE IN SOCIO- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Dr. M Kamaraju, FIE, Imm. Past Chairman of AP State Center welcomed the gathering and invited the dignitaries on to the dais while Dr. P Kodanda Rama Rao, FIE, Chairman of AP State Center presided over the meeting and requested both the dignitaries as well as family members to join for garlanding the portrait of Er. Yarlagadda Sreeramulu and lighting the Jyothi. In his opening remarks, the Chairman briefed about the activities of IEI in general and the AP State Center in particular. He openly intimated the consequences that were cropped up to the State of Andhra Pradesh and the AP State Center of IEI in facing hardships after bifurcation of the combined State of Andhra Pradesh. He solicited the kind intervention of the Hon’ble Minister in sparing the land to the Andhra Pradesh State Center of IEI at Amaravathi for which the Hon’ble Minister responded positively.

Er. Alapati Srinivasa Rao FIE briefly explained the Bio-data of Er. Y. Sriramulu. He had also narrated his experiences with Sri Sriramulu while in erstwhile APSEB and also in LANCO. He explained how Sri Sriramulu garu used to tackle the most difficult situations with his rational thinking and wisdom. He said that Er.Sriramulu used to consider the experiences and suggestions of even the lower cadre staff, if he feels that these suggestions are useful as they are the persons who have hands on experience

A.Srinivasa Rao narrated a real historical story told by Er.Sriramulu garu to him - the moral of the story is "what goes around comes around" and hence everyone should help others to individual's capacity and it is the purpose of life. Er. GV Srinivasulu, MIE, Imm. Past Hon. Secretary of AP State Center introduced the Chief Guest-cum-Key note Speaker, Shri Nara Lokesh, Hon’ble Minister for IT, PR & RD, Govt. of AP.

Shri Nara Lokesh while addressing his speech on ENGINEERS ROLE IN SOCIO – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT said that The Institution of Engineers (India) has been a platform for exchanging information and ideas on Engineering, science and it's various applications. It was mentioned that Engineers are the bridge between science and society, converting Knowledge of basic sciences into products, thereby contributing to Nation's technological and industrial progress. Engineers play a critical role in the growth and development of country's economy and in turn in improving the citizen's life.

Though Global Economy had seen unprecedented growth in the last few decades, some countries have experienced all round development while others are yet to reap the true benefits.

In Indian context- though we have experienced good growth in the service sector- since liberalization reforms in the year 1991 by the then Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Sri P V Narasimha Rao, we are yet to progress in Manufacturing sector. He had expressed that India had to compete with Global market by coming up with innovative products.

In the context of Andhra Pradesh - After the formation of Andhra Pradesh as a separate state of Telugu speaking people on 1st Oct.1953 we have merged with Telengana on 1st Nov.1956. Later the combined Andhra Pradesh State got bifurcated in 2014. Aided by the robust policy frame works and regulations there is a double digit growth at 11.22%, Industrial sector witnessed a growth rate of 8.49% while services grew at 9.11% in the Financial Year 2018. This growth is aimed at 15% year on year to reach our intended targets. Government had considered the scarcity of water and taken up Pattiseema project which saved the Krishna Delta for the last two years. Further Polavaram project - one of the multipurpose irrigation projects in India is another initiative to meet the water scarcity.

Post bifurcation, AP does not have a capital and we are in the process of building one duly taking into consideration the management of big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc. so that we have a most loveable cities globally. Further it was expressed that there is a need to reorient our education so that the students will have the mind set of coming up with the products which compete in the global market and the engineers are required to be more interdisciplinary.

Finally he had expressed that he is confident that the Engineers with the right amount of impetus on innovation can regain the past glory to our great Nation.

As a token of remembrance, a Silver Shield was presented to the Chief Guest by Er. Yarlagadda Harish Chandra Prasad, FIE, Founder & Chief Mentor, M/s. Malaxmi Group, Vijayawada

Finally, vote of thanks was proposed by Er. Yarlagadda Harish Chandra Prasad , FIE, Founder & Chief Mentor, M/s. Malaxmi Group, Vijayawada. The function came to an end with a sumptuous lunch.