Masons can act as potential 'agents of change' for improved rural habitat conditions, provided their skills are honed and capacities are built to meet the needs and expectations of the clients. It is this commitment towards skill-building that led Development Alternatives (DA) set up a masons' association.

The Mandal has various advantages. It enhances the technical capacity of the TKM artisans, helping them get regular employment and ensures that the artisans, as a group, become sensitive towards the needs and conditions of the rural people with respect to their housing requirements. The Mandal also helps in forecasting marketable skills through the establishment of a Labour Market Intelligence System. Based on these forecasts, the Mandal institutionalises the skills and technologies in the area and ensures regular livelihood and better income generation opportunities. Some of the other major agendas of the Mandal are quality control, training and certification, collective negotiating power for better and sustained livelihoods and accrued social benefits for the member masons.

In view of globalisation, availability of improved technology and better work processes, there is an increasing demand for skilled labour. Production is increasingly becoming globalised and the financial markets all over the world are becoming integrated. According to the report on "Working Group on Skill Development & Training" there are 8 per cent skilled, 13 per cent semi-skilled and 79 per cent unskilled workers available in the construction sector. This reflects the growing demand for trained artisans in this sector.

Capacity building: The guild is working towards strengthening the growth prospects of the artisans by enhancing their skill-base. This is done by organising training programmes, workshops and visits to give them more exposure to newer green technologies to manage and supervise their site work better.

• Internal training programmes have been held on ‘Group Management’, ‘Rat trap bond’, ‘Alternative roofing options’, ‘Supervisor training’, etc.

• Exposure visits/training have also been organised, including ‘sustainable eco-building practices’, ‘Green technology through Lok Awas Yatra’, ‘Technical Training’ by HUDCO, ‘Training on Rights protection’ by Labour institute Noida, etc.

TKM is being developed as a Business Model to provide services, as well as encourage production. This kind of enterprise development enables the Mandal to procure for its members, larger orders by facilitating the process between clients and masons. The business plan for this is ready and work is already under progress.

It has been set up as an official entity to explore government opportunities by registering as a cooperative society. The bye-laws for this have been prepared and the registration process is underway at the state level.

• There is a need to collaborate with the Government/Panchayat/Corporate sector in building the skill deficit of the masons through training, capacity building, workshops, exposures and seminars on construction technology.

• Approximately 90 per cent of the masons own a piece of land and prefer to work in the field during the cropping season to ensure food security for their families. Due to the availability of this option they are generally not able to spare time to improve their masonry or business skills.

Skill Enhancement: It is important that masons be kept up to date with the latest technologies by constantly engaging in a knowledge sharing dialogue with each other and with the organisation. From the Mandal’s point of view, the key objective is to develop and enhance the skills of these masons to create better growth opportunities. Efforts are being made in this direction by means of various programmes, including Supervisor trainings, Numeric literacy programmes and introduction of new technologies and products.

Government projects: While engaging with private developers and smaller projects, it will be important to target the large market of government construction. TKM’s Involvement in such projects will not only help in generating good income, but also help in promoting green technologies and creating more awareness about the TARA Karigar Mandal. The potential projects that could be targeted in the near future include the Mukhya Mantri Awaas Yojna (M.P.), IAY, TSC, etc. Additionally, private projects should also be targeted, like SSA School construction in Datia.

TKM monthly news bulletin: A monthly publication should be brought out to stay abreast with the latest developments and to create a better knowledge sharing platform.

The TARA Karigar Mandal is planning to launch masons as ‘Local Engineers and Delivery Agents’. They will be trained in small engineering tools. The catalogue is being developed with different government buildings drawings, designs and estimates for the masons. Thus, in future the masons will be treated as the back bone for implementing the social housing model in Bundelkhand. Many developed and developing nations have evolved a standard of Certification of Competencies at different levels. Following a similar approach, we have trained 120 masons in eco-construction technologies so far and are planning to organise trainings for 120 masons in Tikamgarh district for Mukhya Mantri Awas scheme.

The TARA Karigar Mandal aims to provide trained manpower to government, semi-government and private builders for construction activities. The Mandal will act as a promoter of eco friendly construction materials and green building technologies in rural and urban areas. q