This pilot programme is designed to enhance the skill set of masons for cost-effective and environment friendly construction techniques. This helps the Government to implement the Rural Housing Mission under which, the technologies and materials being demonstrated in the districts will be used to construct 50 houses in each district under the mission.

The training is based on learn-and-practice approach. The training team includes a master trainer, a trainer engineer, and two master masons which train 10 masons in each district. The training is conducted during construction of a pre-selected community building in each district, where the trainees practice their skills under the training team’s supervision. The master masons stay at site till the building is complete. Roughly in the The masons assemble at the site for the lecture delivered by the training team.

The technologies used in building the community building are proven in terms of strength, cost-efficiency and environment friendly measures.

The Wall: The wall is being built in rat-trap bond masonry which places the bricks on edge in such a way as to integrate a discontinuous cavity in a 1-brick thick wall. Besides reducing the quantities of bricks and mortar used in wall construction, the cavity also improves the insulating character of the wall. Another significant outcome of this technique is the emphasis on craftsmanship and neatness of work which justifies the exposed external surface of the wall. This technique saves a lot in terms of materials and energy. Brick masonry being the predominant wall option in the region, Rat-trap masonry can contribute significantly to reducing the overall environmental impact of burnt brick masonry.

The Roof: The roofs proposed in this system are mainly of two types – i) flat roof made of precast RCC planks and joist, and ii) sloped roof made by micro concrete roofing (MCR) tiles. The planks and joist system is modern interpretation of traditional stone patti roofing system with added advantage of concrete reinforcement. In this system, the precast planks of size 1’ x 5’ span between precast joists, typically of section 6" x 6" (which needs to be customized depending on the span). Being precast in nature, this system saves cost and time of shuttering and reduces reinforcing steel requirement. The sloped roof is made by Micro Concrete Roofing tiles made with concrete which uses fine aggregate of less than 6 mm size. It is a high-quality alternative to other conventional options such as burnt clay country tiles (khaprail), biomass and corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets. With an appropriately designed understructure, MCR roofs can be used for a variety of applications such as housing (particularly in villages and small towns) and institutional buildings (schools, community centers etc.).

Both types of roof can be constructed easily without help of shuttering. They have the advantage if being low-embodied energy techniques.

The response obtained till date is mixed in nature. It is very positive in terms of artisans’ enthusiasm in learning new skills and adaptation. The awareness generated through this capacity building programme will indeed spread further in remote and rural areas through the artisans and the live model community buildings in each district. There has already been a demand by local contractors/ engineers in some districts to use Rat-trap technique and the roofing techniques in their commercial projects.

At the same time, the there is also the challenging task of convincing the district authorities about the merits of these technologies, because the prospect of future replication in government supported rural housing depends on their support and pro-activeness.

Such co-ordinated training programmes are critically important to bring environment friendly building materials into rural housing sector. The impact would be in terms of awareness and responsibility towards environment, sustainability and cost-efficiency in construction. The allotment of Rs. 10,000 cr to Indira Awaas Yojana in the current budget can be utilised better only if it is spent in schemes which promote environment friendly and cost-efficient housing. q