Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Baker award for Costford

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (Costford), Thrissur, won the first State Award, named after architect the late Laurie Baker, for architectural excellence in housing.

Costford is a voluntary organisation which was patronised by Baker when he was alive.

Announcing the award here on Tuesday, Minister for Forests and Housing Benoy Viswom said Costford was selected for the award considering its contribution in the promotion of low-cost, eco-friendly housing with public participation. The award carried Rs.1 lakh.

The Minister said three applicants (individuals as well as organisations) had been short listed for the award. A five-member selection committee, chaired by the Secretary (Housing), chose the winner. Costford had a network of seven centres in Kerala and one in Delhi. It promoted low-cost construction and trained people to take up such work.

Mr. Viswom said an individual or organisations should have built more than one house, colonies or office building using low-cost construction methods to be eligible for the award. They should present detailed presentation of their work for the past three years and the achievements in the popularisation of low-cost housing, he said.

He said the fund for the award was contributed by the Kerala State Housing Board. It would be presented on April 1 to coincide with the first death anniversary of Baker.

He said the government scheme for renovation of houses built under the one-lakh housing scheme would be launched on Thursday. The Department of Local Self-Government was in the process of finalising the proposed EMS Housing Scheme for the poor, he said.

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