Work has started!

It's all so exciting! Construction work has finally started this week. 

Steel binding for columns and PCC for the footing is complete... Some latest pictures here

A few thoughts on the process:

• Safety - Seems like a non-issue to the workers as well as their supervisors. I bought safety glasses for the person cutting steel (you can see in the picture that he is not wearing one) on the condition that his supervisor will have to pay for it if I caught him not using one while cutting steel. Guess what? He was not wearing it the very next day! How do you deal with these guys? They say its not practical to use these safety equipment. 
• Using Tobacco - Seems like people in construction industry can NOT do without it! Again, I have given an ultimatum to my site supervisor to stop chewing it all day or face cut in the salary. He is such a nice guy and we are very happy with his work so far, but how do you wean them off of it?
• Coordination - It's too premature, but looks like things are falling in place and we are not losing a day anymore. Goal is to finish first floor slab by Diwali this year! My masonry contractor is confident to finish the entire box by end of February 2014. 

Kids are enjoying going to the site and seeing the work in progress. There is so much learning for all of us going through this process! Rehaan is very much interested in finding out how the building stands without falling...