PNB Housing Finance limited signs MOU with CREDAI to train construction workers in West Bengal

Kolkata : Addressing the need of pacing up constructions with skilled labour that would result in quicker delivery and hand overs, PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL) has signed an MOU with CREDAI West Bengal to train 1000 construction workers in Kolkata and nearby villages.

CREDAI-Bengal would also be setting up permanent (off-site) skill development centres in Medinipur and Murshidabad – places with huge concentration of construction labour. 50% of the training cost is to be borne by the West Bengal State Government and PNBHFL, while the remaining 50% while would be borne by the developer at the construction site from where workers would be trained.

The initiative took off with Merlin Group ‘s Merlin Maximus at BT Barrackpore Trunk Road in Sodepur Kolkata where Merlin would be taking off 50% of the training cost of the construction worker’s training.

“CREDAI Bengal along with National Skill Development Corporation Bengal has outlaid extensive programmes to benefit the future of the unskilled labour in terms formal classroom and on the job training to help them in securing a better future and also pace up projects with appropriate skill inputs,” said Nandu Belani, president at CREDAI Bengal.

Close to three lakh construction workers work on site in Bengal, out of which sixty thousand are unskilled. Expenses to the tune of Rs10000 would be spent on training each of these thousand construction workers.

Training will be provided on the lines of masonry, bar bending and shuttering. Under its Skill Development Initiative, CREDAI is conducting the on-site training programs for construction workers through its experienced in-house Training Partners – Kushal, Rustomjee Academy for Skills, Ashiana Training Institute and Dr. K.L. Garg Memorial Vocational Training Institute (Eldeco Group).

The training is a mix of ‘Classroom’ and On the job training’ conducted at the construction sites itself for a period of about 6 weeks. These training are based on National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Qualification Packs (QP) of NSDC aligned for industry specific job role. The classroom training apart from technical aspects also has soft skill trainings focusing on the social & behavioural habits of the trainees, including health, sanitation and safety to bring significant improvements in their world view and way of life.

“Our skill development programme for on-site construction workers has already benefitted nearly 50,000 workers since inception. We have tried to address the skill deficit in construction sector mostly on our sites through engagement of certified trainers,” said Getamber Anand, president, CREDAI National and Chairman and managing director at, ATS Infrastructure.

Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.