These women in Thrissur construct a new career, brick by brick  

THRISSUR: Breaking through the glass ceiling, 30 women in Thrissur are all set to invade another male dominated domain - masonry. Unlike men, who start as helpers and graduate as masons, women enter and exit as labourers.

But these 30 women, trained as mason at Costford, Thrissur, are all set to leave their make their mark in the field. 

It is yet another feather in the cap of Kudumbasree, which has taken up the task of providing training for women in masonry. Costford program coordinator K K Soja said these women got trained in masonry as part of a project drawn by an engineer. During the training programme they constructed two latrines and a wall. 

“Now, they are trained to calculate the measurements and dimensions of the construction according to the plan. They are trained to construct a building from basement to roof,” she said. 

“They were selected by Kudumbasree from Madakkathara, Kaipamangalam and Kadappuram panchayats. Of them, 20 women are from Madakkathara and five each from Kaipamangalam and Kadappuram. We received 54 applications for the training programme. 

“The were sensitised about the stress involved and many withdrew after understanding the nature of the work. We have selected women under the age of 50 years,” said Soja. 

Bindu, Chandrika and Soumini, three women trainees, said they were confident about taking up the task after the training programme. Many of them have already worked as helpers in construction work. Many of their relatives are masons and they have encouraged these women to pick up skills and responsibilities. 
Presidents of Madakkathara, Kaipamangalam and Kadappuram panchayats visited construction site and encouraged the women to take up the challenge. 

Soja said the panchayat presidents have offered works under LSGs for women masons. The panchayats are taking up many construction works under the MNREG scheme and there is a chance of getting more works, Soja said.

Kudumbasree has spent Rs 4.3 lakh to impart training for these women. The trainees got Rs 125 as daily stipend. Costford had recruited a male mason to train the women. There were classes on personality development and confidence building.