Surveyors' Training Programmes - Who can conduct? A clarification

[S. Anoop Kumar]

 

I am repeat posting the below message once again for I am still getting e-mails and phone calls from some members seeking clarification, but now mostly from Tamilnadu surveyors.  

 

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Dear Friends & Fellow Surveyors,

 

 

I have been receiving several phone calls and e-mails from several surveyors, mostly from Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, also few calls from even other parts of India whether training programmes conducted by institutes or associations other than IIISLA are recognized by IRDA and whether IRDA would accept the training certificates issued by institutes other than IIISLA when submitted at the time of renewal.   I need to share some info with the members on this aspect to bring in more clarity and to clear certain doubts, apprehensions & misconceptions which are bothering some of the surveyors.  

 

 

1. First, as of now IRDA has not made mandatory attending the training programmes for renewal of surveyors licenses.   Hence IRDA is not insisting on the training participation certificates.  There is no case of renewal of surveyors license rejected or held up citing the reason that the particular surveyor has not attended any training programmes or has not attached/enclosed any training certificate.    

2. Second, IRDA is trying to make it mandatory for all surveyors to under go certain minimum prescribed hours of training to be undergone by all surveyors as part of continuous upgradation and refurbishing of professional skills and for award of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points.   But it will come into effect only when such orders are issued by IRDA making attending training programmes mandatory.   

3. Third, Insurance Institute of India (III), Mumbai, National Insurance Academy (NIA), Pune, Institute of Loss Adjusters (ILA), Chennai, General Insurance Surveyors' and Loss Assessors Association (GISLAA), Hyderabad, and some of the chapters or units of IIISLA have been conducting training programmes and have been issuing training certificates.   

4. Fourth, IRDA has not specified anywhere which specific institution can only conduct the training programmes and which cannot.   And no where it is mentioned that only IIISLA can conduct the training programmes and only such certificates would be accepted by IRDA.    

 

Hence I call upon all the surveyors from all parts of India to dismiss all the rumours or false information floating around and to attend the training programmes which suit them the best, which are convenient for them to attend, which can upgrade their professional skills, and most important, which are useful to them.    

 

 

 

With best regards,

 

S. Anoop Kumar,

09849042132. 

[chandra dasaraju]

Dear All,

The following was one of the propositions in the 'Exposure Draft'.

"For the purposes of up-gradation of surveyor’s categorization, it is also necessary that the IIISLA introduces a continuing evaluation and skill development training, the period of which shall not be less than 100 hours for Licentiate, 50 hours for Associate, 25 hours for Fellow Members. The Evaluation Committee will involve a representative of IRDA and that of the Insurance Industry. In addition, number of Seminars and Workshops to be attended shall not be less than: 5 in case of Licentiate, 8 in case of Associate, 10 in case of Fellowship."

From the above proposition itself, it is clear that there is no system in place to conduct the continuous evaluation, as of now.  

 

and for the above proposition, the following response was submitted by me.

"Yes.  Till such time IIISLA establishes its educational programs fully, SLAs attending such programs of other bodies like III, ILA, GISLAA, College of Insurance, should be considered as valid for the purpose of evaluation."

All the responses received by the IRDA might be under consideration, and a final frame work is yet to be released by the Authority.  Till such time, I think we can proceed as we used to, and it is not illegal or unauthorised (or unrecognised) as commented by some vested interests.  In absence of specific approval of recognition / authority, and an approved conduct of programs by IIISLA, the programs run by other institutions like ILA, GISLAA, III can not be branded as unauthorised or illegal.

We all know and agree that IIISLA is an institution promoted by IRDA.  What pains is that inspite of such official clout, we have not been able to establish our credibility as an Institution.  And 'Educational Activity' is one prime activity which has not been conducted with some sort of uniformity, transparency and responsibility.    

If some body is doing a job which IIISLA should be doing, and doing in the best possible manner, one should rather appreciate such effort and take part to learn and emulate such good work.  After all whether IIISLA, ILA or GISLAA who ever conducts a program, it is only for the benefit and with the money of participating SLAs only.

Thanks & Regards,
D. Chandrasekhara Raju,

Insurance Surveyor, Hyderabad.

+91-99490-95995.