The 9th Construction World Annual Awards held on 19 October 2011 at the Taj Land's End, Mumbai witnessed eminent personalities from the construction industry being felicitated for their valuable contributions. A report…
As it turned out, ethics was a running theme through the recently concluded the prestigious Construction World Awards. From Chairman, GVR Group, and Construction World Man of the Year 2011 GVK Reddy, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, the Chief Guest, and former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, the Keynote Speaker, had a shared vision: a vision to build India, sustainably, responsibly and ethically. The vision was articulated time and again-in the VIP room, where the winners, jury members and keynote speakers exchanged notes; on stage; in the audience; and over cocktails and dinner.
The award ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the lamp, following which each successive speaker held the audience rapt. “Construction is an important part of developmental activity in any part of the world,” affirmed Reddy. “India has a lot of oppoÂrtunities; what we need is builders.” He concluded his speech by urging the government to “liberalise more; giving us more opportunities to build our infrastructure”. Mili Majumdar, CEO, TERI-GRIHA, the first Construction World Woman of the Year, urged builders to build responsibly. Her message was succinct: “We should learn to share our resources.” While Mumbai's Sheriff Indu Shahani, Guest of Honour, emphasised the need to build more schools and colleges, Justice Santosh Hegde, Former Lokayukta and Keynote Speaker, made a powerful case for ethical building. And then it was Tharoor's turn, who came in straight from the airport after a whirlwind tour of six cities over two weeks. His 30-minute talk was both insightful and energising. “We need both the hardware of development and the software,” he said, going on to urge builders to abstain from corrupt practices. “If those of us who find ourselves obliged to give, refuse to give; where will the takers go?”
Indeed, such words formed the leitmotif of an eveÂning that was both celebratory in spirit and inspiring in nature. The vision-to build a better India-that was evocated through the evening was not just shared; it was also resplendent: a beacon to a more honourable, more sustainable future.
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