In a democratic society, all citizens have a responsibility to keep themselves aware of the major necessities in society. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t discuss these things in public. I believe that specialists such as engineers have an additional social responsibility because their knowledge is not readily accessible to the laymen.

As members of the IESL, have we tried to help the people who indeed need our help? Renovating a damaged or abandoned tank in a rural community beyond our job task, developing technical aids to teach science and mathematics in rural schools where they don’t have facilities to perform simple laboratory experiments, developing and promoting facilities for disabled and organizing activities to uplift life standards of the general public are some of the possible projects that come into my mind. Sectional committees such as Civil Engineering Section conduct a social responsibility through a project called building clinic and we need more of such types of projects to go to public.

Provincial and district centers of IESL can penetrate into rural community though some projects aiming to serve those people in need of our help. I personally feel that if our members request the universities, through the IESL, for the support from the undergraduate students, they will definitely come forward and these activities could be organized as annual events.

Sustainability of such activities would not be a concern if it is organized as an IESL activity.

Remember always, Goal no 9 of IESL corporate plan “To elevate the image of the engineering profession and the IESL in the industry and the society”.I have no doubts that IESL will wholeheartedly support your social responsibility, please write to us.

Udeni Nawagamuwa
nawagamuwa@gmail.com