Handymen just a phone call away

Coimbatore: Are you tired of searching for a plumber to fix that leaking bathroom tap? Or a carpenter to fix that creaking armchair?
Fret not. From next month, you will be able to get in touch with electricians, plumbers, painters, gardeners and even domestic workers by calling the city’s first City Livelihood Centre (CLC) at 1800 599 3300.
“Those in search of skilled labourers can call the toll-free number and register their request to avail our service. We will connect them with skilled workers,” said an official with the Tamil Nadu corporation for development of women (TNCDW).
The centre, which will be based in the Town Hall, will bridge the gap between demand and supply of services in the city by connecting residents with skilled labourers, who are living below the poverty line in urban areas, the official said. “Our business support service will uplift the livelihood of local skilled labourers.”
Three such centres, established under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), will be set up in the district. Two will be functioning in the corporation limit – at Town Hall and Kuniyamuthur. The other one will be set up in Pollachi.
As many as 500 skilled labourers, mostly electricians, plumbers, carpenters and cooks, have already registered with the centre. “Our field workers are in the process of identify more workers. The government will fix the basic wage for the labourers and the service charge for the centre. We will get feedback from the customers about the quality of service,” the official said.
The centre will also offer e-seva services and provide all sorts of online services right from booking train and flight tickets to paying property tax and bills. “We are also planning to provide skill training to deserved people through the centre, apart from using it to market the goods produced by self-help groups (SHGs),” the official added.