From getting skilled to social security: Ongoing construction training in Chungtia village hopes to empower local workforce

As discussions about the importance of skills development take center stage in Nagaland and across India, a significant training program commenced on August 30 at the Sericulture Resource Centre, Longtsüktep, Chungtia Village. The training, titled ‘Skill Proficiency Management Training for Building and Other Construction Workers,’ is an advanced Training of Trainers (TOT) program, spanning 10 days and catering to 50 trainees.

Organized by the Zynorique Initiatives Society in collaboration with the Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (NBOCWWB) under the Department of Labor, the training aims to enhance the skills of those involved in construction work. The mobilization of the program within Chungtia Village and its neighboring areas was overseen by the Chungtia Lanur Ajungmesoba Committee.

Speaking to MT, Architect Richard Belho, Chairman of Zynorique Initiatives Society, emphasized the training’s focus on skill assessment. “We are trying to assess the skill. This is not intended just for knowledge. This is for people involved in construction. We are trying to evaluate them, and they will be giving exams,” Belho explained.

Belho further addressed a common misconception about the training, noting that many villagers often misunderstand such initiatives as mere formalities. “We have been encouraging the villagers, explaining that we are looking for actual output,” he said.

“The Nagaland government has spent so much money training people for the sake of training. We don’t want to just give people knowledge. There are individuals who genuinely want to be trained, start something, and bring more income to their families. This training is both a proficiency assessment and a Training of Trainers. We are assuming that most participants are already in the construction sector. They will be trained to instruct others, and at the same time, we will be assessing them through exams.”

Speaking about the need for such skill training, Belho pointed out a significant gap in the industry. “In Nagaland, there is no way an average house owner can identify who is a skilled ‘mistry’ and who is not. There’s no way of regularizing how much to pay and to whom. If we don’t have a regulatory rate, we will not be able to move ahead. Eventually, workers may form their own unions, create syndicates, and charge on their own. You won’t even know whether their construction is of quality or not,” he added.

Therefore, he said, with those training and certifications, one can now ask the ‘mistry’ whether they are skilled or not. He informed that those who are proven “good” in the training will be taken to Kohima for 3 months training in their facility.

T Chubayanger, Secretary and CEO of the NBOCW Welfare Board under the Department of Labor, also spoke about the significance of the training. “Till date, there is no industry in Nagaland, but there is an industry that never sleeps—construction. Unfortunately, our people do not wish to join it. We feel it may be demeaning to join the construction industry, but this is one place where you’ll get work throughout the year.”

The CEO also highlighted the issue of migrant workers dominating the construction sector in Nagaland. “Nagas often talk about outsiders coming in and dominating the area, even discussing driving them away. But that approach isn’t going to work,” he said. “The only thing we can do is replace them. Migrant workers are here because there is work. So, once we take over their work, they will leave by themselves. That is the whole concept.”

The CEO further expressed hope that over the years, most of their trained workers are now finding full-time work. “Workers from Eastern Nagaland are really picking up well. So, we also want to encourage others,” he said, adding, “We are trying to up-skill people so that they can find work in the market.”

He also outlined the social security benefits that come with completing the training and registering under the NBOCWWB. These benefits include educational scholarships for children, maternal benefits, and health insurance through Ayushman Bharat. “They don’t have to pay anything for it,” he assured, adding that workers who receive the NBOCWWB card will automatically gain access to these benefits.

Currently, over 35,000 construction workers are registered with the NBOCWWB, although not all are active. Chubayanger highlighted the importance of annual membership renewal, which can be done conveniently through their mobile app (NBOCWWB), eliminating the need for workers to visit the office in person. “The renewal period is from January to March every year. If they don’t renew, they won’t be eligible for the benefits,” he said.

This training will also be conducted at Sungratsü village for Kubolong sub-division in Mokokchung District. The primary goal is to elevate skill levels of construction workers across various trades including electrical, RCC & Brick masonry, and tiling and plumbing.

MT