Delay in funding by the Karnataka government has slowed down the setting up of manufacturing units of Nirmithi Kendras, depriving poor people of affordable housing.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is delaying the release of funds to Nirmithi Kendras for the past two years. This delay has slowed the process of setting up of manufacturing units for the production of low-cost, efficient building materials. The materials produced by these kendras particularly benefits the economically weaker sections of society in buying affordable housing.
Shivkumar M, Project Manager, Bangalore Rural Nirmithi Kendra says, “Delay is related to the availability of funds. Every year there is a budget. In that, there would be amount fixed for every department. From two years due to covid, this amount is less or would be released next year.”
Shivkumar also said that a maximum amount of Rs. 2 crores is given by the government to Nirmithi Kendras for each individual project. However, these kendras are only receiving half of the total amount and have to complete projects with their savings.
Nirmithi Kendras are centers proposed by the Indian government and established under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner of each district. The project aims to produce low-cost, effective building materials. These kendras are set up by Karnataka Rajya Nirmana Kendra under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited (RGRHCL).
Mr. Venkatarama Reddy, professor of Indian Institute of Science and member of Karnataka Rajya Nirmana Kendra (KARNIK) said that Nirmithi Kendras mainly cater to housing and related activities for government schemes on affordable housing.
These centers use modern technologies to produce materials which are further used in sustainable construction of government buildings, houses for poor people and other government projects. These technologies are designed and implemented by various research & development centers and educational institutions like IITs.
Project Manager of Kolar Nirmithi Kendra, K.N. Narayana Gowda, said that there is also a shortage of manpower in these kendras. He added that as soon as people become skilled in their work, they no more wish to work as laborers on a daily wage but start their own businesses as contractors instead.
Narayana further added, “Another problem we face is the upcoming technology that we are not able to demonstrate to the public due to lack of acceptance among them.” Due to the delay in receiving funds and a lack of labor, these kendras are not able to upgrade their technologies or renovate the their own buildings.
