| The
            Indian building material sector is one of the main reasons for the
            high cost of housing in India, keeping it out of the reach of the
            poorer households in rural and urban settings and also the largest
            single contributor to environmental degradation and depletion of
            natural resources in India. The urgent need to redress the situation
            stirred a lot of initiatives, both at national and international
            levels. The Swiss funded Buildings Material Project, on-going since
            1998, targets the Indian building material sector to help find
            sustainable solutions for the shelter crisis by striving to make the
            options of Cost Effective and Environment Friendly (CEEF) building
            technologies prominent and acceptable, both as shelter solutions and
            viable market enterprises. Although all project partners have
            individual strategies targeted at their focus areas, Capacity
            Building was identified as one of the key components of the
            project, with every partner addressing the issue according to its
            own strategy. The project seeks to address the training deficiencies
            regarding product quality, marketing and business management in the
            building materials sector. The
            Human Settlement Management Institute was engaged to carry out a
            survey identifying all actors involved in training in the
            Construction sector and assess the training demand and supply of
            CEEF technologies in the five BMP states, namely- Orissa, Madhya
            Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The categories
            of actors identified were policy makers, architects and engineers,
            site supervisors, building material producers and applicators
            (masons and other workforce). It was understood, for the study, that
            demand and supply of training in CEEF technologies is indirectly
            dictated by the supply and demand of the technologies themselves in
            these states. Training
            Supply - A view across the states 
              
                | The
                  dissemination and the consolidated presence of CEEF
                  technologies vary considerably across the states. Some notable
                  success stories are marked by fairly strong training
                  components, both formal and informal. The Southern states
                  present a much wider outreach due to a fairly strong Building
                  Centre movement. Auroville in Tamil Nadu and Mitraniketan and
                  Inspiration in Kerala embrace a holistic ‘CEEF approach’,
                  largely absent from the scenario. Kerala, which demands to be
                  seen in the post-penetration phase of CEEF technologies has
                  the highest concentration of individual practitioners and
                  organizations to implement CEEF technologies. Also, largest
                  number of architects and engineers get trained in CEEF
                  technologies in the state mostly through the on-the-job model.
                  Tamil Nadu has benefited from strong Government support and
                  also has some NGOs committed to CEEF technologies and training
                  beneficiaries in their use. Andhra Pradesh, with widespread
                  activity in the Govt. EWS housing sector through the network
                  of Nirmithi Kendras, boasts of structured training in largest
                  numbers. | 
 |  
                | Training
                  masons in the DA-CARE "Ashraya" Project, Orissa |  Academic
            institutions in MP like Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI)
            have been the first to include CEEF technologies in their formal
            curricula and also organize training for teachers in these
            technologies. Taragram Nirman Kendra has successfully made planned
            interventions in the Bundelkhand region to disseminate technology
            and ensure sustainability through micro-enterprises. The post
            cyclone reconstruction has seen Orissa as a late entrant to the CEEF
            sector, but one where phenomenal volumes are addressed, although the
            quality is suspect in many cases. Both DA-CARE ‘Ashraya’
            programme and the UN House programme, have trained masons,
            supervisors and local network partners and ‘Ashraya’ project has
            set up Building Material Service Banks that are envisaged as
            commercially viable enterprises in the long run. The District
            Primary Education Programme(DPEP) in the study states, especially in
            MP and Orissa, with its approach to rationalization of designs while
            demonstrating CEEF technologies has indirectly given a big boost to
            the penetration of CEEF technologies and has developed good models
            of "supervisor’ training. Women have demonstrated tremendous
            potential as competent masons, most notable instances being the
            Jeewapoorna Women Masons Society in Kerala and the widespread ‘Anganwadi’
            programmes in Andhra Pradesh. A
            view across categories of actors HUDCO
            has been in the forefront, and indeed, the torchbearer of the effort
            for the wide dissemination of CEEF technologies. One of its most
            significant initiatives has been the nationwide setting up of
            Building Centres which, with their mandate of technology transfer,
            have training as one of their primary objectives and form the
            single largest suppliers of training in CEEF technologies. However,
            in many cases, building centres conduct training in response to
            manpower demand for executing projects, barring which, lack of
            finance for training is a common complaint. Habitat Polytech,
            supported by HUDCO, having reached all parts of the country
            specializes in ‘barefoot training ‘ for masons and supervisors
            and in conducting training of trainers (TOT). For construction
            workers (applicators), particularly masons, the only formal
            training mechanism for conventional building technologies attempted
            through the government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) has
            failed, as those trained have become supervisors. Another initiative
            is the Construction Workers' Training Institute (CWTI) targeted at
            the construction workforce of larger construction firms and also
            actively advertising its services. Organisations like NBCC and L
            & T have rigorous in-house training programmes. NICMAR has done
            pioneering work in formulating job descriptions and skill standards
            for several building trades. INSTRUCT,
            an NGO in Bangalore, has taken up training in masonry as an
            exclusive activity and has been active throughout Karnataka. The
            Contractor’s Development Institute (CDI) at Hyderabad is a
            laudable new initiative with the focus on the 90,000 odd Class A contractors,
            who are bigger players in the market. Capacity Building for building
            supervisors in CEEF technologies has been largely carried out by
            HUDCO for the Project managers of Building Centres, in two -week
            workshops, run alternately at HSMI and at Chennai. Building
            material producers,
            a small but very significant category, are mostly self-made
            entrepreneurs surviving by trial and error. Most common and informal
            support is technical instructions on purchase or installation of
            machinery. Some exceptions exist in the case of bigger machine
            manufacturers, who ensure proper training and follow-up. Architects
            and engineers need to be an integral part of any training
            strategy for CEEF training and dissemination, preferably by suitable
            modifications in the academic curricula which at present mostly do
            not address the issue at all. There are instances of training
            engineers at building centres as part of specific projects but it is
            not regularised. Policy makers represent a key group who are
            presently hardly covered by any training/orientation. Their support
            is crucial both for improving the supply and generating demand for
            CEEF technologies and training. Some Building Centres, such as
            Nirmithi Kendra ,Dhar are training Panchayat officials, who are key
            policy implementors in the wake of the seventy-third Constitutional
            Amendment. Content
            and methodology of training 
              
                | Attitude
                  of the trainee is the most important factor for the success of
                  the training. Commitment and conversion to the cause of CEEF
                  technologies is more critical than knowledge and skills.
                  Well-structured training programmes are rare and so is the
                  understanding of their benefits. Almost all structured
                  training in CEEF technologies and even in the conventional
                  construction sector can be said to have the following
                  characteristics: | 
 |  
                |  | A
                  mobile exhibition of CEEF technologies by Narmada Nirmithi Kendra, MP
 |  
              
                | t | 
              The rationale of ‘Why CEEF technologies?’ from ideological and
              environmental point of view is hardly covered. |  
              | t | 
              Contents of training pay little attention to quality control in
              construction. This becomes even more important since a large part
              of training is on the job. |  
              | t | 
              There is a lack of properly designed training aids and manuals. A
              direct relationship between good training aids and the resulting
              high efficacy of training aids emerges clearly |  
              | t | 
              Training is often conducted by technical persons with occupational
              skills but no instructional skills |  
              | t | 
              Method of evaluation of training is absent/
              non-structured/informal in most cases. |  
              | t | 
              Feedback from training is ad-hoc and often considered unimportant.
              Mostly, no attempt is made to keep a record of the trainees. |  
              | t | Certification, if any, is usually based on participation and not
              on performance. A mechanism which makes a training certificate a
              valuable document , particularly for the mason trainee is
              certainly desirable. |  Training
            Demand - a view across the states 
            
              | On
            the face of it, the greatest demand for CEEF technologies exists in
            Kerala and in isolated pockets of other states. Even in Kerala, the
            movement needs to be revived by infusing the same with greater
            qualitative and aesthetic value. In Tamil Nadu, it is reasonable to
            assume hidden demand , since the state has a considerable populace
            to whom CEEF approaches combined with aesthetics and economics would
            have considerable appeal. In Andhra Pradesh, categories other than
            EWS must to be tapped. The excellent demonstration projects and the
            existing data base on resources and technology possibilities can be
            used to advantage to capture public imagination. In Madhya Pradesh,
            an efficient networking amongst existing institutions is all that is
            probably needed to make CEEF technologies cross the critical mass
            and in turn generate demand. In Orissa, the huge demand for skilled
            masons in the post cyclone reconstruction activity has to be
            channelised towards CEEF technology options. Also, high visibility
            buildings and awareness generation at all levels is an area of
            special attention in Orissa as compared to the other states. |    Hands-in-pocket
                training                        
                Hands-on training |  
              
                | Addressing
            key target groups There
            is no continuity in the demand and supply which breaks with each
            project cycle. There is loss of trained manpower because of no
            continuity of work. Various types and levels of skill are required
            in the construction industry, which has no control at the moment on
            skill levels. One positive policy level demand generation initiative
            in this regard is the inclusion of a clause in construction
            contracts, specifying the percentage of trained manpower to be used
            in the project. Many
            practitioners in the building sector, namely architects and
            engineers, are not conversant with CEEF technologies, especially the
            hardened government engineers who are difficult converts. Master
            masons and small contractors are responsible for a majority of
            construction activity in the country, and can be addressed and
            oriented to act as agents of change and in turn trigger demand
            generation. The recent earthquake in Gujarat has focused the country’s
            attention on the quality of construction practices. This must be
            used to advantage to project earthquake -resistant CEEF technologies
            as the appropriate solution for the beneficiaries of the numerous
            rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes. | 
 |  
                |  | A
                  part of the 12 technology booklet series developed by HUDCO's
                  Habitat Polytech, New Delhi |  Key
            Recommendations 
              
                | t | A
            conscious effort must be made to counter a very common
            misunderstanding of CEEF technologies merely as a set of walling and
            roofing options and present it as a holistic
            approach.  |  
              | t | Of
            all the trades, the Construction Worker i.e the bricklayer or mason
            deserves priority attention. Here, equal attention must be paid to
            training in good masonry practices, as much as to skill
            building in CEEF technologies. |  
              | t | Database
            of
            all CEEF related agencies/ agents/documentation on projects/ and
            networking amongst CEEF practitioners is a prime focus area.  |  
              | t | The
            conduct of training has to be made financially attractive for
            Building Centres. Building Centres must consciously change their
            focus from production of cement based components to acting as
            resource centres. Management skills of Building Centres'
            project managers have to be strengthened. |  
              | t | Training and support related to
            enterprise development
            through CEEF technologies must be paid serious attention. |  
              | t | All
            training to clearly include ‘Why is CEEF relevant? i.e.
            attitudinal skills must be inculcated. Quality of
            construction/products must form an important part of any training
            intervention. Training evaluation must be done and skills imparted,
            should be reviewed after field application. A standard system of
            performance certification has to be introduced. |  
              | t | 
            The momentum and interest generated in the post-earthquake scenario
            should be used to introduce CEEF earthquake resistant building
            options to the general public through execution of
            high-visibility and good quality demonstration projects. |  
              | t | The user has to be flooded with information from all possible
            media. Awareness generation at all levels, including
            professionals, is of crucial importance. The training
            strategy should attempt to reach NGOs, particularly those
            that are working in allied areas such as energy .Networking
            between practitioners and manpower sharing could be a
            strategy evolved to retain trained manpower. |    q Gayatri
            Ratnam is a Fellow at Human Settlement Management Institute,
            New Delhi
            and Pankaj Khanna is a Building Technologist at Development
            Alternatives.
 
            
              | CLEANing
                SOUTH ASIA |  
              | Community
                Led
                Environment
                Action
                Network
                (CLEAN) Programme
                is slowly but firmly taking roots, not only in our country but
                also in neighbouring South Asian countries. World Vision
                (Nepal), at present working in Kathmandu on aspects of building
                infrastructure, health and sanitation, education and other
                social issues has decided to start a CLEAN-Nepal Programme.
                Starting with pilot phase activities in the Kathmandu Valley in
                the first year, they plan for a country-wide expansion and have
                identified Development Alternatives as programme consultants. A
                team consisting of Col V. Katju, Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi and Ms.
                Anuradha recently visited Kathmandu for extensive discussions
                with World Vision. The visit afforded the opportunity of first
                hand interaction with the community and also a glimpse into the
                existing environmental issues to be addressed, issues endemic to
                most developing countries. River Baghmati, a once-swift flowing
                river that is now a veritable drain, is the regular recipient of
                blood and non-consumable remains from the carcasses of buffaloes
                disposed off by butchers residing in a nearby slum colony. The
                water supply to Kathmandu township provided by borewells and
                springs does not meet the demand and is also poised for a high
                incidence of water-borne diseases. The absence of a regularised
                solid waste management system of the Metropolitan Council of
                Kathmandu results in random open garbage dumps in residential
                areas. However, a positive attitude was evident during a visit
                to Bungmati village, where wicker baskets in wrought iron stands
                for collection of household wastes provide a semblance of order. The
                districts of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have been
                assigned to three Area Development Programme (ADPs) locations
                and the ADPs will get in touch with local NGOs with a proven
                track record of dedicated work towards environment. Also, World
                Vision (Nepal) will get in touch with Village Development
                Committees (VDCs) and initiate action to suit their local
                environmental condition with help from schools.
 The DA team visit to a VDC and two schools at Bungmati in
                Lalitpur District found a favourable response among enthusiastic
                principals, teachers, school children and citizens who were
                willing to devote extra hours for the community. The Cooperative
                School is run by contributions from the community and it is well
                organised. To prevent people from using river banks as garbage
                dumps and also to attenuate soil erosion, it was suggested to
                initiate extensive plantation of trees, with the communities
                sharing responsibility for looking after them. The DA Team also
                met the Traffic Police Chief of Kathmandu and suggested regular
                pollution control checks and avenue plantation in existing wide
                areas as measures to counter air pollution from vehicular
                traffic. Also, sign boards could be placed at traffic junctions
                giving data of ambient air to include SPM, NOx and SO2 for
                creating a general awareness among the people.
 
 One message, which is clearly perceived, is that the school
                children strongly believe that adults have failed miserably in
                the environment upkeep. They have the drive to co-ordinate
                various activities on environment mitigation and are being
                backed by the SAARC governments in their endeavour.
 Col.
                V. Katju (Retd.)Manager, Environment Systems Branch
 |  |