Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Sep 17: Just as doctors use 'Dr' and professors use 'Prof', and teachers in Karnataka were recently granted the title 'Tr', the state government has now officially issued an order permitting engineers to use the prefix 'Er' (Engineer). This progressive move follows hard on the heels of the state permitting teachers to adopt 'Tr'.

The formal announcement was delivered by chief minister D K Shivakumar on September 15 during Engineers' Day celebrations, held to honour the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

Alongside granting official sanction for engineering professionals to use 'Er' as a prefix to their names, the government has officially gazetted September 15 as Engineers' Day as a state-observed event.

Emphasising the significance of the move, CM Shivakumar stated, “More than one lac engineers are being produced in our state every year. Karnataka has the highest number of engineers in India, and it is our responsibility to recognise them.”

Society presently recognises several distinctive prefixes for various vocations. While 'Dr' is used by medical practitioners and PhD holders, 'Prof' is reserved for academics and professors, and 'Tr' was introduced recently by the state for teachers, 'Er' now stands proudly for engineers alongside other professional titles like CA, CS, and Ar. for Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and Architects.

Meanwhile, discussions are underway to introduce the 'Lr' prefix for lecturers. Overall, this historic order bestows a fresh professional identity upon Karnataka's massive engineering fraternity.