Repost: Women to Storm Construction Sector

Interesting article on closing the wage disparity gap among women in India's construction industry.

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It’s rare to see women in the construction sector doing skilled jobs. You often find them carrying heavy headloads at construction sites. They are also being paid very low wages. But with the Kudumbasree Mission’s project to train women in construction and maintenance work, things may change soon.

Within three months, 150 skilled masons, 15 plumbers and 15 electricians will be trained to take up jobs at various construction sites.“The idea is to help women earn more with skills that are much in demand in this field,” Tani Thomas, the Kudumbasree district co-ordinator, told The Hindu.

The unskilled women workers in the construction sector are now being paid only Rs. 300 per day while their men counterparts demand Rs.500- Rs. 600 a day. The wage goes up to Rs.700 for skilled work.

“We are already receiving many enquiries about skilled workforce. Equipping women with skills will help them earn at least Rs.700 a day,” Ms. Thomas added.

The Rs.1 crore project is being implemented with the financial assistance from Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (Hudco) as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The Kudumbasree has set up a women’s team of 10 engineering graduates and 20 civil diploma holders for the project.

The training period is three months. The Kudumbasree mission will provide tool kits for the women labourers. It will also come up with an equipment lending station. “The equipments would be available not only for the women we train but for others as well,” said Ms. Thomas.

KITCO Limited has provided the training capsules for the women and an NGO, Jyothi Jeevika, from Kottayam will be training women in masonry at Manjummel in five days a week. They will get a stipend of Rs.350 a day.

After the training programme, the all-women team will be engaged in small construction projects for a year.

Minister for Panchayats and Social Welfare M. K. Muneer will inaugurate the programme at the Thrikkakara Community Hall on Monday.

View the original article at http://www.thehindu.com.