Vishu Rita Krocha
Kohima | August 21
“We should start somewhere and the ‘Year of Construction Workers’ (YoCW) is a very positive step being taken. Especially for people like me who made mistakes”- These are the words of Paul Shikhu, a Dimapur based youth who fell in love with construction after he started overseeing the building of his own home.
So when he saw the advertisement on YoCW training, he decided to register and equip himself with more knowledge about construction. “One vital thing I learnt is that building houses in earthquake prone areas such as Nagaland is different from the flood areas”, he says while adding that “binding the rods is also different.” “They (Trainers) also focused a lot on our personal safety and provided us with gears”, he goes on to say and felt that he emerged more empowered both practically and theoretically from the training.
Impressing upon that he was not proud of being an alcoholic in the past, he however professes that accepting Jesus as his Lord and Saviour has changed all of that. “I was able to quit my addiction and I have been sober for 5 years now”, he puts across.
Already given his interest for the construction sector, he strongly felt that the YoCW is a timely initiative. “Most of us Nagas are not serious with life”, he states but in the meantime, emphasizes that construction is one sector that the youths can thrive in if they take it seriously. In the long run, Paul Shikhu aspires to become a real estate developer and currently has two projects at hand that he will be overseeing.
Kiphire based construction worker, Atsachum was also delighted to have attended the YoCW training held in his district. “I am very happy that they (trainers) took the time to come and teach us”, he expresses. Stating that he has been doing construction related work for a couple of years now, he says, “I attended the training to learn more and get more knowledge so I can take it forward.” And he has certainly not been disappointed with it.
In Wokha, the YoCW Training has been instrumental in the formation of the ‘Wokha District Construction Workers Society’ (WDCWS). One of the trainees and also secretary of the society, P. Nchumthung Tungoe says that there is so much scope to go forward in this sector and adds that the society has been initiated to have a more organized system of working for the construction workers. “Whether they are painters, electricians, plumbers, masons, etc, they can register with the society and whenever their services are required either by the private or government sector, they can be contacted”, he enlightens.
He hopes that other districts will also form their own association for the welfare of the construction workers spread across the state. P. Nchumthung Tungoe is trained as an electrician, a carpenter and as a plastic machine operator and hopes to see more young people joining the workforce in the construction sector.
*Year of Construction Workers (YOCW) is a joint program of the Government of Nagaland in partnership with YouthNet, Zynorique and the Department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
