Skill shortage may dampen growth: Ficci

Acute shortage of skilled professionals across different sectors including medicine, IT and aviation may dampen the Indian economy's growth rate, industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Ficci) has warned.

The country would have a shortage of over 5 lakh doctors and engineers each and thousands of pilots by 2012, according to a study by the chamber.

Presently, there are 5.91 lakh doctors and only 22,000 (at best) would be added to this number annually taking the total to about 7 lakh by 2012, against an estimated requirement of over 12 lakh, the survey said.

Likewise, while the total number of nurses is less than 1 lakh, the requirement would be over 11 lakh by 2012.

There would be a serious shortfall of anaesthetists, radiologists, gynaecologists and surgeons, respondents to the survey predicted.

"The country would have to take immediate corrective steps to overcome the shortages if it wants to maintain the growth momentum of the economy," FICCI said.

The information technology industry requires over 3.5 lakh engineers per year, against the availability of just 1.5 lakh engineers. The total shortfall would be over 5 lakh by 2012.

In aviation there would be a requirement of 5,400 pilots by the end of the 11th plan and thereafter 150 pilots would be required each year to balance retirement and attrition.

The FICCI survey identified education, food processing and bio-technology sectors as other key areas that deserve immediate attention for promoting skill development needs of the economy.