Traditionally, clay tiles and country tiles are used in residential buildings of rural and urban Mysore. Slowly, country tiles have phased out from the scene because the potter tradition is dying gradually. Clay tiles are being produced and supplied from Mangalore, Malur in Karnataka and Calicut in Kerala which are around 250 km away from this region. The supply position of Mangalore Pattern tiles is adversely affected due to escalating energy costs, depleting (clay) resource base and increase in labour costs. Due to these factors, cost of good quality tiles is increasing everyday. Manufacturers and users have started looking for alternative roofing option. In this scenario, Micro Concrete Roofing Technology plays a major role to provide affordable roofing solution.

MCR Units in South Karnataka

Micro Concrete Roofing (MCR) is not only a good technology but is also a good business. Over the decade, it has gained wider acceptance among rural and semi urban market. TARA has actively promoted MCR technology since 1992 in with technological backing of Development Alternatives. Activities pertaining to MCR dissemination on a large scale in South Karnataka were initiated in 1996. The producers were provided with the machinery on hire-purchase to accelerate the acceptance to selected entrepreneurs keen on taking risks. These pioneer entrepreneurs created awareness among the users in the Mysore region. Subsequently a concentrated effort for promotion of MCR in the Mysore region was initiated on a large scale in 2003.

The TARA marketing team has set its eyes on establishing two to three MCR machines in each tehsil/taluk by the end of Year 2005 by adopting following strategy:

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