L&T division gets ISO certificate

According to S Chandrasekar, general manager, (Plant and Human Resources), “the unique nature of the construction industry and the strong need to integrate its people led the HRD department of L&T-ECC to device innovative methods to tackle the various functions and activities involving even the line people.”

The policy of the HRD department is to provide the vital business advantage of human resources to L&T-ECC by recruiting qualified, skilled and competent workforce, inspiringconfidence, collaboration and trust among them and upgrading their skills by training to meet the needs and challenges of the organisation, he said.

The major activities of the HRD department include sourcing or recruiting, sustenance, development and organisational development. In order to ensure the availability of skilled manpower, the company has designed `the L&T Build India Scholarship’ programme in collaboration with IIT Chennai and Delhi. It is for a tailor-made, user-oriented M Tech programme of 18 months in construction technology and management.

To train people in trades like masons, carpenters etc a technical training school has been established in Chennai in collaboration with Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), UK and Henry Boot Ltd, UK. Chandrasekar said similar institutions will be set up in other regions as well.

Similarly to take care of the over Rs 500 crore construction machinery of L&T-ECC, specialised training schools have been set up in Chennai, Mumbai andCalcutta.

Special rewards and insurance, medical, residential and educational facilities are being provided to the employees to motivate and encourage them to take risks and work in difficult conditions, he added.

Delivering the key-note address at the function, Disinvestment Commission chairman G V Ramakrishna said the government should come out with a package in its Budget to give a fillip to the construction sector, including according it industry status and extending some excise duty concessions for construction equipment.

Ramakrishna said the government should pay greater attention to the construction industry, if it was serious about generating employment and upgrading infrastructure in the country.

Ramakrishna, also the chairman of the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC), said the first thing the government should do was to grant industry status to construction industry. It should streamline the financing of the sector and consider giving excise concessions to constructionequipment.

Considering the large number of skilled personnel that the Indian construction industry sent abroad every year, it should be conferred `export status’ and facilities given to exporters should be extended to the construction sector, he said.