The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Course for construction workers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Course for construction workers

Staff Reporter

To help those seeking jobs abroad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government would start a certificate course for construction workers in association with the Nirmithi Kendra, Minister for Housing and Forest Binoy Viswom has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the World Habitat Day celebrations organised by the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) in the city on Monday.

“We have already devised a syllabus for the purpose. The syllabus has been formed after detailed discussion with the construction workers apart from technocrats and engineers,” Mr. Viswom said. The programme will be of assistance for those seeking employing opportunities abroad especially in the Gulf, the Housing Minister added.

Urging local bodies to play a crucial role in the construction of low cost houses, the Housing Minister said that there are over four lakh indigent people in the State who are unable to afford a shelter of their own.

The Nirmithi Kendra is currently engaged in the process of identifying low-cost technologies and in finding out a substitute for soil in construction.

Describing the late architect Lauri Baker as a visionary, Mr. Viswom said the government would institute an award in his name for individuals and organisations engaged in the construction of low cost houses.

The award, carrying a purse of Rs.1 lakh, will be given away on the occasion of the first anniversary of the late architects death, the Minister said.

The theme of this year’s Habitat Day was ‘Just society, a safe society.’ Alluding to the theme Mr. Viswom remarked that “criminalisation has become an inescapable reality of urbanisation.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala