Engineers hold key for next industrial revolution: Lokesh

Vijayawada: Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj Nara Lokesh called upon the engineers to play a key role in the forthcoming fourth industrial revolution. Delivering the Yarlagadda Sreeramulu 15th Endowment lecture on ‘Engineers’ Role in Socio-Economic Development’ at Institution of Engineers here on Friday, he said that the massive automation of industry is in the offing with the onset of artificial intelligence, robotics and Block Chain technology. Chairman of the Institution of Engineers Dr P Kondandaram presided over the meeting.

Since the first industrial revolution, engineers have solved a number of problems for the development and advancement of the society, the minister said and added that there are still many problems including food production for the growing population, health security for all, protected drinking water supply and education among others to overcome.

The minister recalled that the economic reforms introduced by the former prime minister the late PV Narasimha Rao kick-started the development. Poverty has been considerably reduced in the country, he said and regretted that still 17.6 crore people are living below the poverty line.

Lokesh opined that the future depends upon mostly on the service sector and we can create a large number of jobs. In spite of the setback due to the bifurcation, the State has achieved two-digit growth, he pointed out. The Minister said that large scale employment can be generated through manufacturing sector and India is going to be the largest workshop for the world.

Recalling the achievements of the State government despite economic constraints, the minister said that for the first time in the country, two rivers were merged providing irrigation to the Krishna delta.

Once the Polavaram project is completed, 40 lakh acres could be brought under irrigation, the minister averred. He exhorted the engineers to focus on product innovations and lead the state towards development.