Y2K problem and what it could do to computer data was the most common subject for discussion among techies and pretenders in the mid 90’s. It is at this point that the West first started to look at the Indian software engineers – both cheap and efficient - to fill up the enormous number of human hours required to correct this problem.
The Indians have come a long way since this unexpected windfall, carving a niche for themselves in the world software industry.
Success filled the Indian techies with a new confidence and an all important “can do attitude”.
Indian economy in general resonated this confidence and attitude, evident in the consistent growth rate and the new spate of acquisitions of companies outside India by Indian Industries.
Unfortunately, India is now falling victim to its own success.
Lack of infrastructure required to support the booming economy is a well documented fact.
And now, the competitive advantage India had with the high number of technically educated workforce will also fade out in the coming years if they fail to plan and act urgently.
According to a report in Business Standard New Delhi Edition Mr Darlie Koshy, executive director, National Institute of Design (NID), has warned that India faces an acute shortage of 8,000-10,000 designers every year in over 200 industry segments. While there are 17,973 institutes in the country there are only a dozen-odd institutes that produce over 500 designers per annum, whereas the demand is for 8,000-10,000 designers. As the country is evolving from a knowledge-based economy to a creative economy, design, creativity and innovation is one of the pillars of the economy just like science and technology is. While there are 800,000 technologists in the country today there are hardly 1,000-1,200 designers in the country.
